Harmanpreet Singh-led Indian Team in motion (Credit: AFP Photo)
While Harmanpreet Singh struck within the seventh and twenty eighth minutes, Jugraj Singh (24′) and Lalit Upadhyay (50′) scored a aim every to assist India seal a 4-1 win of their opening match of the season. Spanish captain Marc Miralles (34′) was the lone goalscorer for the guests.
Skipper Harmanpreet Singh starred with a brace because the Indian males’s hockey crew began its FIH Hockey Pro League 2023/24 season with a dominant 4-1 over Spain of their opening match held on Saturday on the Kalinga Hockey Stadium, Bhubaneswar.
While Harmanpreet Singh struck within the seventh and twenty eighth minutes, Jugraj Singh (24′) and Lalit Upadhyay (50′) scored a aim every to assist India seal a 4-1 win of their opening match of the season. Spanish captain Marc Miralles (34′) was the lone goalscorer for the guests.
Both groups had been cautious of their strategy, as they centered on sustaining their construction, with correct passes within the midfield. It was India who got here up with the primary actual assault as Hardik Singh made a surprising run from the precise flank to attract the primary penalty nook, which was duly transformed by Harmanpreet with a fiery low drag-flick, making it 1-0 within the seventh minute.
Although Spain had higher ball possession, India had been disciplined within the defence. They didn’t enable the guests to create areas and ended the opening quarter with a slim 1-0 lead. In their bid to attain an equaliser, Spain began the second quarter brightly. They created a few goalscoring alternatives and likewise had a penalty nook, however Indian goalie PR Sreejesh stood tall to disclaim guests from equalising.
India instantly responded as that they had as many as three back-to-back penalty corners, with the third one being rewarded right into a penalty stroke. Harmanpreet as soon as once more stepped up and slotted the ball residence with ease, making it 2-0 for the hosts within the twentieth minute. India rode on the momentum as they prolonged their lead by way of Jugraj’s low drag-flick that went by way of Spanish goalie Luis Calzado’s legs, making it 3-0 within the twenty fourth minute.
With lower than two minutes to go for the primary half, Spain earned their second penalty nook of the match however missed out on changing it. They additionally made forays inside India’s circle within the dying seconds, however the residence facet survived the hazard, ending the primary half with a cushty 3-0 lead.
Spain upped their ante and began the third quarter aggressively. They piled stress on the Indian defence, and a stick sort out by Gurjant Singh gave away a penalty stroke to the guests within the thirty fourth minute. Miralles made no mistake in pulling a aim again for Spain as he slotted the ball into the highest proper nook of the aim.
The latter part of the third quarter noticed some end-to-end motion, with each groups in search of areas inside one another’s halves. India had their seventh penalty nook, however Jugraj’s drag-flick was off beam. Spain got here out all weapons blazing within the remaining quarter. They had been relentless of their pursuit and made harmful runs inside, however the Indian defence led by Sreejesh stored the guests away from the aim.
India went on so as to add the fourth aim on the counter-attack. Sukhjeet orchestrated a high-quality run on the left, taking part in the ball to his teammate from the highest of the circle. However, the deflection from Spanish defenders fell to Lalit, who was on the proper place, on the proper time, and hammered the ball into the nets by way of a reverse flick within the fiftieth minute. Spain, however, had a wonderful alternative to tug a aim again within the 56th minute however missed out on changing one more penalty nook.
With lower than two minutes to go for the ultimate hooter, India had been all the way down to 10 males as Gurjant Singh was given the yellow card. Spain might make a lot of it as India ran down the clock to seal a cushty 4-1 win.
India will tackle the defending champions the Netherlands of their second match on Sunday.
(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is printed from a syndicated news company feed – IANS)
Siddarth SriramAfter coaching within the subject of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, at the moment dabbles in placing collectively tales, from acros…Read More
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