Close X
Thursday, October 31, 2024
ADVT 
Sports

CWG: India Stun England 4-3; Will Face New Zealand In Semis

IANS, 11 Apr, 2018 02:08 PM
  • CWG: India Stun England 4-3; Will Face New Zealand In Semis
The Indian men’s hockey team scored two goals in the final three minutes to overcome England 4-3 in a thrilling match to top Pool B and enter the semi-finals of the 21st Commonwealth Games here on Wednesday.
 
 
Manpreet Singh (32nd), Rupinder Pal Singh (51st), Varun Kumar (58th) and Mandeep Singh (59th) scored for India while England got their goals from David Condon (17th minute), Liam Ansell (52nd) and Sam Ward (56th).
 
 
Following the win in their final Pool B game, India have 10 points—three more than second-placed England.
 
 
It was tussle to the top spot in Pool B and the two teams lived up to the billing with entertaining hockey, pushing each other hooter-to-hooter.
 
 
Though India were quick to attack with Gurjant and Lalit Upadhyay taking shots on goal in quick succession only three minutes into the first quarter, England upped the ante soon after with Mark Gleghorne creating a goal scoring opportunity as he helped win the first penalty corner for England.
 
 
However, Indian goalkeeper PR Sreejesh was stunning in his effort to pad-away Gleghorne’s fiercely-struck flick.
 
 
England though dominated the proceedings in the first and second quarter with disciplined structure, keeping the ball for longer spells, and came up with good man-to-man marking that kept the Indian forwards in the hunt to create space.
 
 
England struck first in the 16th minute when Mark Gleghorne opened up the counter attack racing into the right flank, a strong cross to Adam Dixon saw him assist goal scorer David Condon who came up with a brilliant backhand shot to convert and give England a 1-0 lead in the 17th minute.
 
 
An Indian infringement in the following minute saw England win their second penalty corner of the match, but Sreejesh was unrelenting yet again, stopping and clearing Gleghorne’s flick.
 
 
India’s wait for an equaliser finally ended in the 33rd minute when skipper Manpreet Singh struck from the top of the circle after a good assist from Mandeep Singh, who couldn’t take a shot on goal himself with two English defenders tackling him.
 
 
Earlier, a penalty corner opportunity was lost out by India when Harmanpreet Singh’s drag-flick was obstructed by England’s first rusher.
The 1-1 equaliser ensured the third and the fourth quarter were fought with great vigour and that’s exactly what transpired.
 
 
India continued to dominate the third quarter as Rupinder Pal Singh earned India the much-needed 2-1 lead when he converted a penalty corner in the 50th minute. But defensive errors in the circle saw India give away two crucial PCs soon after.
 
 
England, meanwhile, punished India for their mistakes as Liam Ansell and Sam Ward swiftly converted PCs in the 52nd and 56th minute respectively, snatching a 3-2 lead. But the action continued with India putting up an aggressive front.
 
 
Akashdeep Singh helped India win a penalty corner in the dying minutes of the match, with India pulling out the goalkeeper to add an extra man to their attack, the tactic worked with Varun Kumar finding the equaliser with a well-struck drag-flick.
 
 
A powerful pass from Manpreet that sliced into the top of the circle was deflected into the goal by Mandeep ending the match with winning points taking their total tally to ten points in Pool B.  India take on New Zealand on Friday.

MORE Sports ARTICLES

Wrestler Sakshi Malik Bags Silver At Asian Championships

Wrestler Sakshi Malik Bags Silver At Asian Championships
India's Phogat sisters, Vinesh and Ritu, have once again made the country proud as they bagged two medals at the ongoing Asian Wrestling Championships here on Friday 

Wrestler Sakshi Malik Bags Silver At Asian Championships

Cape Breton West Islanders Win Midget Triple-A National Championship

Cape Breton West Islanders Win Midget Triple-A National Championship
PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. — The Cape Breton West Islanders are the 2017 Telus Cup champions.

Cape Breton West Islanders Win Midget Triple-A National Championship

Sardar Singh Recommended For Khel Ratna; Cheteshwar Pujara For Arjuna Award

Sardar Singh Recommended For Khel Ratna; Cheteshwar Pujara For Arjuna Award
Hockey India (HI) on Monday recommended senior player and former captain Sardar Singh for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, India’s highest sporting honour.

Sardar Singh Recommended For Khel Ratna; Cheteshwar Pujara For Arjuna Award

Oops! Serena Williams Made Pregnancy Public By Accident

Oops! Serena Williams Made Pregnancy Public By Accident
VANCOUVER — Serena Williams says she was taking a personal photo of her progressing pregnancy on Snapchat when she accidentally pressed the wrong button and made the post public.

Oops! Serena Williams Made Pregnancy Public By Accident

Shahid Afridi Gets Special Retirement Gift From Indian Cricket Team

In a heart-warming show of sportsmanship and camaraderie, the Indian cricket team sent a special retirement gift to Shahid Afridi by presenting him a Virat Kohli shirt signed by all the players.

Shahid Afridi Gets Special Retirement Gift From Indian Cricket Team

'I Let The Market Down': Willie Desjardins Reflects On Time As Canucks Head Coach

'I Let The Market Down': Willie Desjardins Reflects On Time As Canucks Head Coach
With the logo of the team that fired him just 72 hours earlier covered by a black curtain on the wall to his right, Willie Desjardins started to go through a list of people he wanted to thank.

'I Let The Market Down': Willie Desjardins Reflects On Time As Canucks Head Coach