KATHMANDU, SEPT 26: Defending champions India rode ona brilliant hat-trick by star striker IM Vijayan as they capitalised on a weak defence to rout Pakistan 5-2 in a group A league match of the SAF Games Football Championship here today.Vijayan struck three goals in quick succession in the second half to complete his hat-trick while Jules Alberto and Sabir Pasha scored a goal each in a rather one-sided contest at the floodlit Dashrath Stadium here.Pakistan captain Haroon Yossaf converted a penalty late in the second half while Gohar Zaman scored the last goal in injury time.The Indians, who were expected to face a spirited challenge from the Pakistanis, struck first blood as early as the seventh minute of the contest with Jules Alberto finding the target, capitalising on a defensive lapse.The goal served as a tonic for the Indians as they consolidated the position just four minutes later with Sabir Pasha producing a gem of a left footer from the edge of the box, giving no chance to the Pakistanicustodian.Leading 2-0 at the interval, the Indians stepped up the pace in the second session keeping the Pakistani defence on tenterhooks with a series of raids from both the flanks.Vijayan, who looked dangerous whenever he broke through the defence, got into the thick of action by scoring his first goal in 7th minute of second half, piercing the defence with deft footwork and placing the ball in from close to the goalmouth.Nine minutes later, the lanky striker struck again as he broke through the defence and lobbed the ball over the advancing goalkeeper and then completed his hat-trick in the 72nd minute when he converted a penalty without much fuss. The penalty was awarded when defender Dilshad Ali handled the ball inside the box.Leading by a huge 5-0 margin, the Indians seemed to relax a little bit allowing their rivals to make forays towards the later stages of the proceedings watched by a fairly large and noisy crowd.The Pakistanis managed a goal ten minutes before final whistle with theircaptain Haroon Yossaf converting a spotkick after medio Basudeb Mondal brought down the Pakistani captain inside the box.The hard-working forward Gohar Zaman produced a brilliant side-volley to score the second goal for Pakistan in injury time.
