The Indian males’s hockey workforce went down preventing to hosts Spain of their opening sport of the one hundredth Anniversary Spanish Hockey Federation worldwide event. Spain gained the hard-fought contest 2-1 in Barcelona on Tuesday. Spain took an early lead within the first quarter when Pau Cunill (11’) put them in entrance. Joaquin Menini then elevated the lead within the thirty third minute. For India, captain Harmanpreet Singh (59’) netted the aim.
India males’s hockey workforce fights it out towards Spain
India commenced the match on an aggressive observe with excessive urgent within the first quarter however have been unable to take the lead. Meanwhile, hosts Spain started to realize momentum as the primary quarter progressed, and it paid off as Pau Cunill (11′) discovered the again of the online to place the hosts forward within the eleventh minute.
After conceding the early aim, India appeared to manage possession and launch a counterattack within the second quarter however their quest for an equaliser was thwarted by Spain’s sturdy defence. There have been no targets within the second quarter as Spain went into half-time with a 1-0 lead.
The third quarter started with the Indian workforce attacking ruthlessly and repeatedly testing Spain’s defence; nevertheless, the hosts not solely stored India at bay but additionally doubled their lead via Joaquin Menini (33′), who discovered himself in a perfect place to deflect in a lighting shot by Jose Basterra.
Relentless stress however no targets
Trailing by two targets, India shifted gears to place relentless stress on Spain and even gained a penalty nook, however have been unable to capitalise on it. Also, Spain’s goalkeeper saved Indian Captain Harmanpreet Singh’s fiery shot from a distance in direction of the tip of the third quarter to make it possible for Spain enters the ultimate quarter-hour of the sport with the 2 targets lead.
In their bid to bounce again within the sport, India got here out all weapons blazing within the fourth quarter and created some good scoring alternatives, however they nonetheless struggled to search out their first aim of the sport. Meanwhile, Spain switched to counter-attacking and gained back-to-back penalty corners, however have been unable to transform any of them.
On the opposite hand, India continued to place stress on the house workforce’s defence, which paid off when Captain Harmanpreet Singh (59′) transformed a penalty nook within the dying minutes of the sport to maintain his workforce within the sport. However, Spain prevented India from scoring one other aim, and the sport ended 2-1 in favour of the hosts.
Indian Men’s Hockey Team will subsequent tackle the Netherlands of their second sport of the event on Wednesday.
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Source: www.hindustantimes.com
