Skipper Harmanpreet Singh starred with a brace because the Indian males’s hockey group began its FIH Hockey Professional League 2023/24 season with a dominant 4-1 over Spain of their opening match held on Saturday on the Kalinga Hockey Stadium, Bhubaneswar.
Whereas Harmanpreet Singh struck within the seventh and twenty eighth minutes, Jugraj Singh (24′) and Lalit Upadhyay (50′) scored a aim every to assist India seal a 4-1 win of their opening match of the season. Spanish captain Marc Miralles (34′) was the lone goalscorer for the guests.
Each groups had been cautious of their strategy, as they centered on sustaining their construction, with correct passes within the midfield. It was India who got here up with the primary actual assault as Hardik Singh made a shocking run from the correct flank to attract the primary penalty nook, which was duly transformed by Harmanpreet with a fiery low drag-flick, making it 1-0 within the seventh minute.
Though Spain had higher ball possession, India had been disciplined within the defence. They didn’t enable the guests to create areas and ended the opening quarter with a slender 1-0 lead. Of their bid to attain an equaliser, Spain began the second quarter brightly. They created a few goalscoring alternatives and in addition had a penalty nook, however Indian goalie PR Sreejesh stood tall to disclaim guests from equalising.
India’s hattrick of penalty nook objectives put hosts in commanding place
India instantly responded as they’d as many as three back-to-back penalty corners, with the third one being rewarded right into a penalty stroke. Harmanpreet as soon as once more stepped up and slotted the ball house with ease, making it 2-0 for the hosts within the twentieth minute. India rode on the momentum as they prolonged their lead by Jugraj’s low drag-flick that went by Spanish goalie Luis Calzado’s legs, making it 3-0 within the twenty fourth minute.
With lower than two minutes to go for the primary half, Spain earned their second penalty nook of the match however missed out on changing it. Additionally they made forays inside India’s circle within the dying seconds, however the house facet survived the hazard, ending the primary half with a snug 3-0 lead.
Spain upped their ante and began the third quarter aggressively. They piled stress on the Indian defence, and a stick deal with by Gurjant Singh gave away a penalty stroke to the guests within the thirty fourth minute. Miralles made no mistake in pulling a aim again for Spain as he slotted the ball into the highest proper nook of the aim.
India managed the sport within the second half
The latter part of the third quarter noticed some end-to-end motion, with each groups searching for areas inside one another’s halves. India had their seventh penalty nook, however Jugraj’s drag-flick was off track. Spain got here out all weapons blazing within the ultimate quarter. They had been relentless of their pursuit and made harmful runs inside, however the Indian defence led by Sreejesh stored the guests away from the aim.
India went on so as to add the fourth aim on the counter-attack. Sukhjeet orchestrated a superb run on the left, taking part in the ball to his teammate from the highest of the circle. Nonetheless, the deflection from Spanish defenders fell to Lalit, who was on the proper place, on the proper time, and hammered the ball into the nets by a reverse flick within the fiftieth minute. Spain, alternatively, had a wonderful alternative to tug a aim again within the 56th minute however missed out on changing yet one more penalty nook.
With lower than two minutes to go for the ultimate hooter, India had been right down to 10 males as Gurjant Singh was given the yellow card. Spain might make a lot of it as India ran down the clock to seal a snug 4-1 win.
India will tackle the defending champions the Netherlands of their second match on Sunday.