New Delhi, twenty fifth July 2023: The Indian Males’s Hockey Workforce put up a preventing present of their opening recreation of the one centesimal Anniversary Spanish Hockey Federation – Worldwide Event however hosts Spain gained the closely-fought tie 2-1 in Barcelona on Tuesday. Captain Harmanpreet Singh (59’) netted a purpose for India after Pau Cunill (11’) and Joaquin Menini (33’) had put the hosts in entrance.
India commenced the match on an aggressive be aware with excessive urgent within the first quarter however had been unable to take the lead. In the meantime, 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.
With the scoreline stacked towards them, India appeared to manage possession and launch a counterattack within the second quarter searching for an equaliser, however Spain’s defence held sturdy to stop them from bouncing again, because the second quarter ended goalless, with Spain main 1-0 at half-time.
The third quarter started with the Indian workforce attacking ruthlessly and repeatedly testing Spain’s defence; nonetheless, the hosts not solely stored India at bay but in addition doubled their lead via Joaquin Menini (33′), who discovered himself in a really perfect place to deflect in a lighting shot by Jose Basterra.
Trailing by two targets, India shifted gears to place relentless stress on Spain and even gained a penalty nook, however had been unable to capitalise on it. Additionally, Spain’s goalkeeper saved Indian Captain Harmanpreet Singh’s fiery shot from a distance in the direction of the tip of the third quarter to guarantee that Spain enters the ultimate quarter-hour of the sport with the 2 targets lead.
Of their bid to bounce again within the recreation, India got here out all weapons blazing within the fourth quarter and created some good scoring alternatives, however they nonetheless struggled to seek out their first purpose of the sport. In the meantime, Spain switched to counter-attacking and gained back-to-back penalty corners, however had been unable to transform any of them.
However, 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 recreation. Nonetheless, Spain prevented India from scoring one other purpose, and the sport ended 2-1 in favour of the hosts.
Indian Males’s Hockey Workforce will subsequent tackle the Netherlands of their second recreation of the event on twenty sixth July 2023 at 21:30 IST.
Followers in India can view all of the matches of the one centesimal Anniversary Spanish Hockey Federation – Worldwide Event on Olympics.com and Watch.Hockey.
