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The Hindu
8 hours ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
FIH Hockey Pro League: India women draws 2-2 with Argentina, suffers shootout defeat
After a gruelling 2–2 draw, the Indian Women's Hockey team missed out on the bonus point, going down 0–2 to Argentina in the shootout at the FIH Hockey Pro League 2024/25 match at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre in London on Wednesday. Navneet Kaur and Deepika scored in the third and fourth quarters, respectively, pulling India back from a two-goal deficit. This came after Agustina Gorzelany's brace (27', 37') had given Argentina a comfortable lead. Neither of the experienced sides managed to test the goalkeepers in the opening quarter. Argentina's high press restricted the Indian attack, but India found space through quick stick work and sharp passing, frequently looking to fire the ball into the circle. Sharmila Devi made a promising run into the circle early on but was forced out of bounds by the Argentine defence, while Sunelita Toppo made a shrewd interception and surged forward, only to see the ball go out of play. Despite Argentina's organised defensive structure, India ended the first half with nearly twice as many circle entries. In the second quarter, Argentina's Victoria Miranda made a powerful injection into the final third from midfield, but a crucial touch from Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke took care of the threat. ALSO READ | Indian junior women's hockey team ends tour of Europe with loss against Netherlands Argentina converted its first penalty corner of the night when Gorzelany struck cleanly to give her side a 1–0 lead in the 27th minute. The third quarter began with India under sustained pressure in its own half. Argentina's wide play stretched the Indian defence, but India managed to win its fourth penalty corner in the 35th minute. Manisha's thunderous strike was blocked by Valentina Raposo, and Navneet followed up with another powerful shot just seconds later but was once again denied by Cosentino. Argentina continued to make the most of its set-pieces, with Gorzelany converting yet another penalty corner in the 37th minute to double its lead. Victoria Granatto nearly made it 3–0 from close range, but Indian goalkeeper Savita produced a courageous save to keep India in contention. Deepika nearly pulled one back with an electric shot from just outside the circle, but Cosentino reacted sharply to parry the ball away. India was finally rewarded for its persistence in the final quarter. In the 50th minute, Navneet made a skillful run after receiving the ball on the edge of the circle. She beat a defender and smashed it into the back of the net to bring India back into the contest at 1–2. India pushed forward in search of an equaliser in the closing minutes and earned a penalty corner with less than five minutes on the clock. Deepika was on target yet again, scoring from the set-piece to level the score and complete India's fightback. Following the 2-2 deadlock at full time, both teams competed in a shootout for the bonus point. India couldn't find the back of the net while Brisa Bruggesser and Sophia Cairo scored against Savita.
Hindustan Times
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Fighting India women lose again to Argentina in FIH Pro League, this time in shootout
London, A poor display in penalty shootout cost the Indian women's hockey team dearly as it lost 0-2 to Argentina after the Salima Tete-led side came back from two goals down in a FIH Pro League match here on Wednesday. The Indians wasted chances galore to suffer their fourth consecutive defeat in the European leg of the league. The Indian women went down 2-3 and 1-2 to Australia here before losing 1-4 against Argentina on Tuesday. Agustina Gorzelany converted two penalty corners for Argentina, which was the difference between two sides initially as India wasted as many as four set pieces and a couple of great chances in the first two quarters. But Navneet Kaur reduced the margin in the 50th minute through a field effort to keep the contest alive, and then Deepika converted India's fifth penalty corner in the 56th minute to level the scores. The shootout turned out to be a nightmare for India as Deepika, Rutuja, Lalresiami and Baljeet Kaur all missed their chances, while Argentina scored through Brisa Bruggesser and Sofia Cairo. It was a fast-paced start to the match but both sides failed to make a clear cut circle penetration in the opening eight minutes with the play mostly concentrated in the midfield. In the seventh minute the first circle penetration came from Argentina but Eugenia Trinchinetti's reverse hit just went past the face of Indian goal. In the last five minutes of the first quarter, India displayed beautiful one-touch, skilful hockey to get into the Argentine circle on at least three occasions and created bright chances but the Las Leones defended bravely. The Indians completely dominated the second quarter with innumerable circle penetrations but failed to get that decisive final touch. India secured as many as three back-to-back penalty corners in the last five minutes of the second quarter, but failed to get past the resolute Argentine defence. Minutes later, India paid the price for their poor penalty corner conversion rate when Argentina took the lead from their first set piece through Gorzelany, whose fierce flick beat Indian defence all ends up. Argentina were on the backfoot for most part of the first two quarters but utilised the only real chance that came their way, unlike the Indians. The goal seemed to have pumped up the Argentines as they looked bright after the change of ends. But it was India who secured their fourth penalty corner in the 35th minute and Manisha's flick was saved on the goalline. Two minutes later, Argentina rubbed salt on India's wound by converting their second penalty corner through Gorzelany to take a 2-0 lead. Soon India goalkeeper Savita made an excellent body save to keep out Victoria Granatto's reverse hit. The Indians didn't lose hope despite Argentina attacking in numbers as they attempted one try after another and their efforts bore fruit in the 50th minute when Navneet scored from top of the circle. Argentina secured their third penalty corner soon but this time Gorzelany failed to get past the Indian defence. Of India's fifth penalty corner, Deepika scored to level with little over four minutes remaining. Argentina pressed hard in the remaining minutes but the Indian defence stood tall to take the match into shootout. The Indian women will next play Belgium in Antwerp on June 21.
