Pakistan-1, India-1
AFP, Quetta
Striker Mohammad Essa scored from a free-kick Sunday to help Pakistan hold India 1-1 in the thrilling opening match of the first football series played between the South Asian rivals. An enthusiastic crowd of 20,000 fans cheered as Essa scored the equaliser after India's 65th minute goal from Sunil Chetri following a barren first half. Essa, the top scorer for Pakistan in last year's SAF Games, where his side beat India in the final, held his nerves to score with just 12 minutes left. The second match is scheduled at Peshawar on Thursday and the last match will take place at Lahore on Saturday -- both to be played under lights. Pakistan matched India move for move in the first half during which the visitor's captain Shanmugam Venkatesh helped India create three good scoring chances -- all thwarted by home team's impressive defence.
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