FIH Hockey Pro League: India Begin Campaign With 4-1 Over Spain – News18

Skipper Harmanpreet Singh starred with a brace because the Indian males’s hockey workforce 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 purpose 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 method, 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 shocking run from the appropriate 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 they’d 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 means of Jugraj’s low drag-flick that went by means 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 snug 3-0 lead.

Spain upped their ante and began the third quarter aggressively. They piled strain on the Indian defence, and a stick deal with by Gurjant Singh gave away a penalty stroke to the guests within the thirty fourth minute. Miralles made no mistake in pulling a purpose again for Spain as he slotted the ball into the highest proper nook of the purpose.

The latter part of the third quarter noticed some end-to-end motion, with each groups on the lookout for 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 saved the guests away from the purpose.

India went on so as to add the fourth purpose on the counter-attack. Sukhjeet orchestrated a nice 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 means of a reverse flick within the fiftieth minute. Spain, alternatively, had a wonderful alternative to drag a purpose 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 snug 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 workers and is printed from a syndicated news company feed – IANS)