Bangalore: India defeated Pakistan 1-0 yesterday in an emotionally-charged opener to take the lead in a two-match football series, the first between the arch-rivals for nine years.


India's Robin Singh (second from right) heads the ball towards the Pakistani goal at Bangalore's Karnataka State Football Association Stadium yesterday. Pic/AFP 

The hosts hung on to their slender lead after scoring in the 44th minute in front of thousands of cheering home fans at the Bangalore Football Stadium.