Scoreline: Argentina 4 (Victoria Falasco 29′, Agustina Gorzelany 40′, 54′ and 59′) beat India 1 (Deepika 30′)
Earlier than Argentina’s first purpose got here late within the first half, the very best openings to attain had been common by India. Earlier than Argentina’s second purpose to retake the lead within the third quarter, India had two golden possibilities from open play when three attackers had been overloaded in entrance of a solitary defender however did not convert and take the lead. Ultimately, a 1-4 defeat in London towards the world No 2 facet was maybe harsh on Salima Tete’s facet however it meant they suffered a 3rd straight defeat and places them at risk of relegation from the FIH Professional League.
Coach Harendra Singh was assured forward of the match that his crew can push the most effective sides on the planet. “Sadly, I really feel unhappy for my women for the 2 matches towards Australia (the place they misplaced by 1-goal margins), they gave it every thing however nonetheless we couldn’t get the factors. However that’s the mindset with which we have now come right here. If we play to our strengths like we did towards the Aussies, we can have a great likelihood.”
They did, certainly, however it got here right down to what they did with these possibilities in the end.
India total had the higher of the opening exchanges at each ends of the pitch, creating good attacking angles but in addition holding a stable form defensively and largely proscribing Argentina to passive possession. The primary robust attacking transfer of the match got here from India as Neha broke by from a good space within the defensive half earlier than releasing Lalremsiami, who made a driving run into the circle however her shot was weak. And the primary huge likelihood of the match got here with 4 minutes to go in Q1 as Salima Tete discovered herself in house down the precise channel however with time and house, the captain fluffed her traces, caught in two minds over crossing throughout purpose and going for a shot, in the end firing it excessive and huge.
There was loads of endeavour from India and not using a clear end result, an issue space that coach Harendra has been wanting to enhance since he took over – making the precise selections within the attacking third. However the opening quarter-hour had been a mirrored image of the boldness that Harendra had on his facet for pulling off one thing towards the most effective groups on the planet.
Argentina upped the tempo initially of the second quarter, taking part in one-touch hockey and looking out vertical on the pitch as an alternative of sideways. A Penalty Nook was a simply reward for them, and it gave the good Agustina Gorzelany an opportunity to check the Indian defence together with her drag flicks. Over the subsequent couple of months in England, it’s a sight cricket followers wouldn’t need to see from Indian batters within the Take a look at collection, however a vanguard from Navneet Kaur’s stick prevented a sure purpose after Bichu Devi was overwhelmed in purpose. The goalkeeper reacted sharply shortly after from a great deflection on course, and India held on to the clear sheet.
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India ought to have gone forward quickly after a blistering counterattack initiated by vice-captain Navneet Kaur. She drove ahead from the defensive half, discovered Lalremsiami down the precise who hit a pleasant go into the circle. The ball ultimately fell to Baljeet Kaur on the far publish and from a great 1v1 scenario, she couldn’t discover the goal as she tried to elevate the ball over the keeper who was really off her line. Lack of composure, once more an issue.
Once you don’t convert the half possibilities towards prime sides, invariably, they make you pay. With lower than two minutes to go within the half, Gorzelany, the lone participant within the Argentina half, had on a regular basis to play a protracted aerial into the circle. Jyoti Singh tried to play it first, however her contact took the ball into the stick of an Argentine attacker and the ball broke kindly to Victoria Falasco who hammered a robust low shot previous Bichu.
To India’s credit score although, they stored going until the final moments of the half and gained a PC with six seconds left on the clock. And Deepika stepped up and fired a low drag flick to beat the primary rusher after which the goalkeeper to her proper. It wasn’t concerning the energy however about placement, displaying an evolution in her flicking.
Coach Harendra loves referring to India’s model as ‘masala hockey’, and initially of the second half, that they had two deliciously spicy possibilities to take the lead. An excellent turnover in defence resulted in a blistering counterattack, growing right into a 3v1 scenario, however Salima delayed her pass-shot too late, and Cristina Cosentino was capable of pad it away. And India really had one other 3v1 scenario shortly after too, and this time Navneet’s shot throughout purpose was blocked. Two golden possibilities within the matter of minutes went begging.
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Then Gorzelany’s class from the PCs made the distinction for Argentina once more as India’s lack of ability to take the lead bit them again. The drag-flick ace went excessive this time, concentrating on the roof of the online and the ball hit Jyoti Singh’s physique on the road, leading to a penalty stroke that the Argentine star duly transformed.
India gained a few PCs early within the remaining quarter however not for the primary time, that they had Deepika on the bench and never on the sector, that means they needed to resort to their backup plans that didn’t repay. Argentina’s third purpose got here off a stroke that was harshly given towards India and Gorzelany made no mistake. She’d go on to finish a hat-trick from one other drag flick, profiting from India being one brief defensively. A 4-1 scoreline maybe flattered Argentina however it was a outcome led to by India’s lack of ability to transform durations of dominance into objectives and the world No 2 having an elite goalscorer like Gorzelany of their ranks.