Craig Fulton relieved as India survive Pakistan scare but warns of final test
India head coach Craig Fulton was relieved rather than satisfied after the defending champions survived a stunning Pakistan fightback to win 4-3 and reach the Asian Games hockey final on Thursday.
India appeared in control after taking a 3-0 lead, but Pakistan fought back to level the semifinal and put the defending champions under intense pressure. India eventually found a late winner, but Fulton admitted his side had made the contest far more difficult than it needed to be.
"I'm relieved. You can't be happy with being 3-0 up, then going 3-3 and then winning 4-3. I'm happy, but that wasn't ideal," Fulton said.
Fulton felt India lost their structure during a crucial phase of the match, allowing Pakistan to capitalise on mistakes.
"We lost a little bit of our shape in the third quarter and at the start of the fourth. But if you make mistakes against a team like this, they can score. They've scored goals against everyone and anyone," he said.
India had created several chances in the first half and could have extended their advantage, but their inability to convert those opportunities allowed Pakistan to remain within reach.
"We needed to get to four and five goals. We missed a few chances and had a lot of good phases of play in the first half. We needed to get to four or five, but we stayed at three," Fulton said.
"You need three-plus goals when you play Pakistan, and that was shown today."MISSED CHANCES OPENED THE DOOR
The coach rejected the suggestion that India had deliberately become defensive after going 3-0 ahead.
"I don't think we went on the defensive. We just missed the chances. And then, when you make a mistake or two against a team like that, they can score. That's the difference," Fulton said.
He also stressed that teams cannot always dictate how a knockout match unfolds.
"You can't play the game you want to play. You have to play the game that's in front of you. And that's what it was. I'm glad we found a way to get to it," he said.
Fulton believed India became too focused on the result during the final stages rather than concentrating on the next phase of play.
"We showed we could play in the first half, even a bit more, around 40 minutes. In the last 20, it got a little bit cagey. We'll look at it, have the conversation and come back and bounce back again," he said.
"It's more about the outcome, I think. Not necessarily the occasion. We were a little bit more distracted by the outcome in that moment.
"But there's still time left on the clock, so you can't do that."FULTON WANTS QUICK RESPONSE
India had enjoyed several convincing wins earlier in the Asian Games, but Fulton dismissed the suggestion that a lack of close matches had left his side unprepared for Pakistan's challenge.
"I don't think so. I just think it's more about us than it's about Pakistan," he said.
The coach also acknowledged the demands of a long season but said India needed to adapt to the changing dynamics of tournament hockey.
"It wasn't easy. But because of the tournament you're in, it changes with the dynamics. We can adapt, keep that narrative fresh, stay in the present and not worry or look too far ahead," Fulton said.
Despite the scare, Fulton was pleased that India continued to push for a winner rather than allow the semifinal to drift towards a shootout.
"Everyone's trying their best. We scored three goals the way we did and created a lot more chances. That's where you need to step up, stay nice and calm and finish what you start," he said.
The dramatic victory has taken India into the Asian Games final, but Fulton's post-match assessment made clear that the defending champions will need to tighten their defence, improve their finishing and maintain their composure if they are to complete their title defence.- Ends
