India to play Pakistan for ninth spot

India swept aside a hapless Argentina 4-2 in a classification match of the Hero Hockey Junior World Cup at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium on Thursday. 

India now play arch-rivals Pakistan for the ninth place on Saturday. Pakistan pummelled South Africa 4-0 in another classification match. Both teams had finished third in their Pool.

India were quick to get off the blocks when Ramandeep Singh, cutting through the right flank, scored in the fourth minute. 

Amit Rohidas doubled the lead within three minutes with a penalty corner conversion. The home side soon went up 3-0 when Ramandeep struck again, this time with a brilliant solo effort.  The midfielder, who was the highest buy during this year’s Hockey India League auction, beat two defenders to enter the circle before striking the ball home.

Argentina pulled one back through Lucaz Martinez (38th minute) but India launched an instant counterattack to be awarded their third penalty corner. Gurjinder Singh (40th) converted it with flair and India were up 4-1.

The Argentines attacked with renewed vigour during the fag end and following a penalty corner in the 69th minute, Lautaro Diaz fired in a rebound to make it 2-4.Classification matches results: England: 6 (James Gall 41st, Luke Taylor 44th, Nicholas Bandurak 48th, 60th, David Goodfield 51st, Andrew Bull 66th) bt Egypt: 1 (Ashraf Said 10th); Spain: (Own goal 30th, Borja Llorens 35th, LLuis Mercade 61st) bt Canada: 2 (Gabriel Ho-Garcia 24th, Brenden Bissett 64th); Pakistan: 4 (Muhammad Dilber 8th, Ammad Shakeel Butt 42nd, 44th, Muhammad Adnan 61st) bt South Africa: 0; India: 4 (Ramandeep Singh 4th, 31st, Amit Rohidas 7th, Gurjinder Singh 40th) bt 2 (Lucaz Martinez 38th, Lautaro Diaz 69th).