India did not start their European leg of the Hockey Pro League well as they lost to hosts Netherlands. However, a day later, they registered a 3-0 win over Argentina. Goals from skipper Harmanpreet Singh, Amit Rohidas and Abhishek were enough for the Men in Blue to secure a crucial win.
India’s goalkeeper PR Sreejesh and Krishan Pathak did their job brilliantly as they took turns to thwart the Argentine attack. This win puts India above Great Britain in the pool standings. India now have 27 points from 14 matches.
Argentina started very strongly and their aggression earned them a penalty corner in the third minute of the game. India took their time to settle down and gradually they started picking up possession and broke into a great counter-attack led by Abhishek. Unfortunately, his shot struck the post and stayed out. Argentina also kept Sreejesh busy with a flurry of attacks in the first quarter.
With neither team managing to score in the first quarter, the second quarter saw India retaliate. They had a positive start to this period as young forwards like Karthi Selvam, Abhishek and Sukhjeet Singh created some good opportunities. In this quarter also, Argentina were persistent with their attacks but Pathak did a great job of keeping everything out.
India finally broke the deadlock when Harmanpreet scored for the Men in Blue from a penalty corner in the 33rd minute. It was Mandeep Singh who created the chance and for which India got the penalty corner.
Six minutes later, India doubled their lead through Amit Rohidas as he also converted a penalty corner. It was Abhishek’s pace and agility that helped India earn the penalty corner and Rohidas did not make any mistake when it was coming his way. Right at the end of the third quarter, Mandeep almost scored his 100th career goal but it was thwarted away by Argentina goalkeeper Santiago.
The last quarter saw Argentina going all out for the goals, while India were defending deep and hitting the South Americans on the counter-attack. While Argentina search for their goals, India scored another one, this time it was Abhishek who slotted the ball home. The move was started by Vivek Sagar Prasad, who had a clear run at goal and as he saw the goalkeeper rushing out, he passed it to Abhishek, who made to mistake in making it 3-0.
Craig Fulton’s men will be facing the hosts the Netherlands in their second match against the Dutch on June 10. Harmanpreet and his men will be looking to give a better account of themselves this time.
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