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FINAL WHISTLE! Spain draw India 1-1 with the hosts taking charge of the game in its dying minutes, but it’s not enough.
One PC conversion each has seen the teams score; Pau Quemada of Spain opened it early on, with India’s VR Raghunath returning the favour.
It’s really not an ideal performance by the blues, though. Awarded five penalty corners, they managed to score off one; the team’s problems with conversion continue. Will this be an issue ahead of their Rio 2016 bid?
59’ That’s some shoddy passing by the Indian side and Spain have taken hold! They try two scoring attempts – neither of which work, and that’s the match!
54’ Another PC to Spain! Again, nobody scores. 6 minutes of play and it’s looking good for Spain.
51' PC to Spain! No score.
FINAL QUARTER commences! India are looking like they’re pushing the attack and this has been a constant feature of their gameplay over the past year. They have done the opposite of choke, but often it’s too little too late...
Q3 COMPLETE! Scores tied at 1-1, both from PC conversions.
If India win, they’ll win the bronze medal. A draw means hosts Spain will take third place, however.
44’ Another scoring attempt from India after a quick and effective penetration of the D. Unfortunately, it bounces hard off the right goalpost and the keeper really doesn’t need to save that one.
42’ Spain are dominating proceedings but India take hold of the ball....it looked like a clear ground as the ball was passed around – and then Spain hit and shoot! PR Sreejesh dives to his right to save and the scores remain equal for now in the final minutes until Q4.
SECOND HALF underway! Spain are really dominating possession here and knocking the ball back and forth with no opportunity for the Indians to break a very effective attack at the minute! They penetrate the Indian circle but there’s nothing so far...
HALF TIME! It’s all equal with Pau Quemada having scored the first for Spain, while V Raghunath did the same for India. Dead even now – the winner of this match will likely finish in bronze position!
20’ GOOOOOAL! It's via PC – to India! They’ve now equalized Spain 1-1 with 10 minutes to go until half-time.
16’ Another PC and again it’s to India! PC conversion is still poor and despite multiple attempts to equalize, and even take the lead, but no dice for Sardar Singh’s side! They cheer as yet another PC is awarded.
END OF Q1 and Spain lead 1-0!
Spain’s defense has been just as good as their attack. They appear to be using a man-to-man marking strategy today and it's paying off; India are again faltering on PC conversion, something that has been a problem area for them before.
14’ In the final minute of Q1 it’s the home side who have scored via penalty stroke.
11’ PC to Spain! They don’t score off the penalty corner, but a penalty stroke is awarded and custodian PR Sreejesh is unable to save!
GOOOOAL as Spain lead 1-0.
8’ PC to India! They shoot – and don’t score. This time there’s an attempt at a second shot at goal, but even that is unsuccessful. Still a non-scoring match on a hot day in Valencia today!
5’ Another PC – this time to Spain! Possession seems fairly even but it’s early days in the game, so let’s see how this one plays out.
5’ PC to India! They can’t capitalize. Scores still at 0-0
And they’re off! Q1 is underway and it’s already the first PC of the game!
The Indian hockey team will play home side Spain in their final match at the Six Nations Invitational Hockey Tournament in Valencia, Spain today. They held off a spirited attack by Argentina yesterday, coming back from a 1-3 deficit to draw the side. Prolific Indian fullback Rupinder Pal Singh drew first blood for the men in blue yesterday, scoring 16 minutes into the game as Argentina looked to hold total control, leading possession significantly. India’s defence, which has been traditionally quite strong, faltered yesterday as the Argentinians demolished it with a solid attack.
It was that defense which came back in the final quarter, with the combine of Ramandeep, Akashdeep and SV Sunil troubling Argentina in return.
They will play their final match against hosts Spain today. An entirely round-robin tournament, the winners at the Six Nations Invitational are decided entirely on the basis of points. It is Germany who lead the standings, having won three of their four matches, with Argentina in second and Spain in third. India are in fourth ahead of New Zealand and the bottom-placed Ireland, who have drawn two and lost two of their own four matches.
India’s scoring opened with a penalty corner yesterday. Capitalizing on PCs is a problem India have faced at a number of tournaments, and one they will want to rectify going into the Rio Olympics in Brazil this August.
Regular captain Sardar Singh returned to lead the side in the tournament in Spain, after having sat out the FIH Men’s Champions Trophy in London, England last month. Prolific goalkeeper PR Sreejesh had led the side in Singh’s absence, taking the team to a strong silver medal finish.
Rupinder Pal Singh had also sat out that tournament, and with the adept drag-flicking expert returning to the squad after also having taken a break at that tournament, fans will be relieved to see the team’s chances strengthened – especially given it was Rupinder who scored the opening PC to equalize for India in what would otherwise have been a loss for the side.
SV Sunil, who was one of the standout stars of the tournament in London, has continued his excellent run of form today and could help take the side to a strong finish in their final game of the tournament today.
The youngsters of the team have won accolades over the past year at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup and at the FIH Men’s Champions Trophy, from spectators, critics and current and former senior players, and should they be able to continue their performances again this year, will usher in a positive era for Indian hockey.
They have shown talent at keeping, drag-flicking and in the midfield; India’s attack has appeared stronger than their defense of late, and given Spain are an attacking side, they will want to be careful in their match against the hosts today.
Team lineup:
PR Sreejesh (VC) Vikas Dahiya, Rupinder Pal Singh, VR Raghunath, Kothajit Singh, Surender Kumar, Harmanpreet Singh, Birendra Lakra, Danish Mujtaba, Chinglensana Singh Manpreet Singh, Sardar Singh (C), SK Uthappa, Devinder Walmiki, Harjeet Singh, Talwinder Singh, SV Sunil, Akashdeep Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Nikkin Thimmaiah.
