Amstelveen: Unable to work the magic that saw them pip Pakistan in the league match, India lost 3-4 to their bitter rivals in a hotly contested Champions Trophy Bronze medal play-off on August 24.

The result was a repeat of the last edition of the championship at Cologne, Germany, when India lost by the same margin to Pakistan.

But this time around, Indians held their heads high even in the defeat as they played some really good hockey. And had it not been for a couple of missed chances, it could have been an entirely different story.

India squandered the lead thrice before conceding a goal with less than two minutes to go for the final hooter to return medal-less and finish the six-nation elite event on a disappointing note.

The Pakistanis thus avenged the 4-7 defeat in the league, just as they had done in Cologne last year.

Full-back Sohail Abbas yet again proved to be Pakistan's saviour with two penalty corner conversions (30th, 61st), while Kashif Jawad (42nd) and Rehan Butt (68th) contributed to the tally.

For India, Jugraj Singh (26th, penalty stroke), Prabhjot Singh (35th) and Deepak Thakur (48th) were on target.

In an earlier match, Argentina defeated Germany 2-1 to clinch the fifth position.

PTI