A commanding India dished out an excellent present of attacking hockey to outplay a tough Spain 2-0 in its FIH males’s World Cup 2023 marketing campaign opener in Rourkela on Friday.
Native boy Amit Rohidas was among the many aim scorers as he struck within the twelfth minute from a penalty nook to the wild cheer of the packed Birsa Munda Stadium, which made its debut as a world hockey venue on Friday.
Hardik Singh scored a superb subject aim within the twenty sixth minute after a wonderful solo run as India, chasing its first medal after 1975, boosted its possibilities of making it to the quarterfinals from Pool D.
The score-line didn’t mirror the diploma of domination by India, which might have received by an even bigger margin however the world quantity six workforce didn’t enable its European opponent, ranked two rungs under it, to play its recreation.
India obtained 5 penalty corners and scored from the second.
Captain Harmanpreet Singh additionally missed a penalty stroke within the third quarter.
Younger goalkeeper Krishan Bahadur Pathak was sensible in entrance of the bar as he made some wonderful saves, together with from penalty corners. Spain was at all times a tough opponent for India but it surely was the house workforce which dictated the phrases to the Europeans, who had the higher hand within the 4 Professional League matches final yr, profitable two and dropping one.
The Indians had been fast on the assault in addition to in counter-attack and received a whole lot of balls from their opponents. Spain had a few probabilities in addition to three penalty corners, which it wasted.
Spain dominated the midfield battle within the preliminary minutes with out getting any scoring probability.
India settled down properly after taking a measure of its opponent and began urgent in the direction of the tip of the primary quarter.
A lot of the assaults started from the proper flank with Nilakanta Sharma, Mandeep Singh, Akashdeep Singh and Abhishek within the thick of issues.
India’s incessant urgent paid off because it obtained three penalty corners in fast succession and took the lead within the twelfth minute of the second by Rohidas.
Harmanpreet’s drag-flick got here off the stick of a Spanish defender and the ball fell to Rohidas whose highly effective hit beat the Spanish goalkeeper all finally ends up.
Only a minute later, India obtained one other penalty nook however Harmanpreet failed to search out the goal.
Simply earlier than the tip of the primary quarter, Abhishek outwitted a few Spanish defender contained in the circle however the efforts didn’t end in a aim.
Nilakanta additionally took a shot however despatched it large.
The second quarter additionally went virtually similar as the primary, as motion remained largely within the Indian half initially as Spain pressed arduous for the equaliser.
However 4 minutes from half time, Hardik made a unbelievable run down the left channel after which despatched a cross on the face of the aim. It beat the Spanish goalkeeper and compelled a defender to deflect it in for India’s second aim.
Spain obtained its first first penalty nook quickly however wasted it.
The third quarter didn’t yield any aim however had loads of drama as captain Harmanpreet wasted a penalty stroke within the thirty second minute. His effort was dominated to have been saved by the Spanish keeper after a video referral by India.
Earlier within the day, England thrashed neighbour Wales 5-0 in one other Pool D match.
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