BENGALURU: Pakistan pulled off a surprise 2-0 win over India on Wednesday, with a late goal from Saddam Hussain ensuring them a share of the spoils in the first football series between the arch rivals for almost a decade.
Pakistan’s captain Kaleemullah put his side ahead in the 38th minute and a scrambled shot by Hussain in the 89th minute silenced the 5 000 Indian spectators at the Bangalore Football Stadium.
The home fans had been hoping for more of the same after India won the first match on Sunday 1-0, at the start of the first series between the South Asian neighbours since India toured Pakistan in 2005.
India suspended all sporting ties with Pakistan following the deadly 2008 attacks on Mumbai, blamed on militants from across the border. However the two countries have played each other in a variety of sports in the last few years, including cricket.
India came close to opening the scoring when a dipping long-range effort by skipper Sunil Chhetri was palmed away by Pakistan’s goalkeeper Muzamil Husain. Agencies
