India vs Spain, Hockey World Cup 2023: India register 2-0 win

First game, first win. ✅
Team India began the World Cup with a victory. 🤩🤩💥

🇮🇳 IND 2:0 ESP 🇪🇸#HockeyIndia #IndiaKaGame #HWC2023 #StarsBecomeLegends @CMO_Odisha @sports_odisha @IndiaSports @Media_SAI pic.twitter.com/xq2PJ0QLdy
— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) January 13, 2023

That's all we have for you this evening. This is Subhashish signing off. Do join us again when India play England at 1900 IST on Sunday, January 15.

Stay with Sportskeeda for all the Latest News and Updates from the 2023 FIH Hockey World Cup.

ODISHA BOY AMIT ROHIDAS WINS THE PLAYER OF THE MATCH AWARD AND THE CROWD CANNOT HOLD BACK THEIR EMOTIONS!!

A WHOPPING 63% POSSESSION FOR THE INDIANS WHO MANAGED 27 CIRCLE ENTRIES AS COMPARED TO MAX CALDAS' TEAM WHO MADE 25 ENTRIES INTO THE ATTACKING CIRCLE

THE INDIANS EARNED SIX PCs WITH HARMANPREET DRAGGING A FEW WIDE WHILE SPAIN EARNED THREE

FIVE SHOTS ON GOAL APIECE BUT THE RED STICKS FAILED TO FIND THE BACK OF THE NET!!

NO PC AFTER ALL AND THE INDIANS COAST TO A BRILLIANT WIN IN THEIR WORLD CUP OPENER

ODISHA BOY AMIT ROHIDAS GAVE THE INDIANS THE LEAD IN THE 12TH MINUTE OFF A PC

HARDIK SINGH DOUBLED THE LEAD WITH AN INCREDIBLE DRIBBLING RUN THAT FOXED THE SPANISH DEFENCE IN THE 26TH MINUTE

HARMANPREET SINGH MISSED A PENALTY STROKE IN Q3 BUT THE INDIANS HELD FIRM AS ABHISHEK PICKED UP A YELLOW IN THE FINAL QUARTER

INDIA HAVE THREE POINTS IN THE BAG!!!

59' Extremely poor cohesion from the Spaniards in the striking circle as they fail to latch on to a promising cross - now go upstairs for a PC

58' Abhishek is back on the pitch. India two minutes away from a victorious start to their 2023 FIH World Cup campaign!!!

THE SPANIARDS MAKE A MESS OF THE PC TO THE ROAR OF THE ROURKELA CROWD!!

57' SPAIN HAVE A PC - THEIR THIRD - CAN THEY SCORE A FIRST??

56' Scrappy play from the Red Sticks who surrender possession cheaply even as the Indians sprint across to the Spanish circle but fail to make it count

54' The Indians have converted one of their six PCs while the Spaniards have failed to convert both of theirs. India try a counter but Lalit takes a tumble

Krishan Pathak shows his class as Cunill is denied yet again!!!!

53' Spain looking to draw the Indian defenders forward - earn a PC!!! Bruce Bale called upon as India want a referral

51' The Spaniards look for space - Enrique has a go at goal and Krishan Pathak saves the shot off the deflection!!!

49' Max Caldas looking a wee bit agitated as Spain fail to make headway despite a man advantage

48' India down to ten as Spain push personnel forward. The Indian defence holds firm

47' Vivek comes away with the ball after the Spaniards fail to manufacture an angled cross in from the left. Abhishek get a yellow card

46' The visitors chase the ball - and the match as Q4 begins. The Indians keep their structure intact near the back lines

🇮🇳 IND VS ESP 🇪🇸

Team India had an action-packed first half! Here are the highlights!#HockeyIndia #IndiaKaGame #HWC2023 #StarsBecomeLegends @CMO_Odisha @sports_odisha @IndiaSports @Media_SAI pic.twitter.com/3AJMssaUy3
— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) January 13, 2023

END OF Q3: INDIA 2 - 0 SPAIN

HARMANPREET MISSES A PENALTY STROKE - FIRES A COUPLE OF DRAG FLICKS WIDE

BUT INDIA STAY IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT IN ROURKELA!!

44' Gonzalez sends in a sizzling cross from the right that sails harmlessly across the Indian goalmouth!!

Harmanpreet drags the flick wide - again!!

43' Spain continue to play catch up as the Indians keep the ball and earn yet another PC!!!

41' Shamsher misses a delectable cross that was angled in - Graham Reid shakes his head in disbelief!!

38' Jarmanpreet to the rescue for the Indians as Spain lose the ball after a promising move. The ball is back in the Spanish circle in a flash but the ball is too high for Manpreet who lunges aerially but fails to make contact!!

Harmanpreet's drag flick is deflected wide and India have a long corner

37' INDIA HAVE A PC FOR A SPANISH FOOT IN THE CIRCLE- CAN THEY SCORE A THIRD???

36' Lalit's cross beats the Spanish defenders - and his own teammates as well. The Indians continue to build patiently down the middle

34' Harmanpreet trudges in looking for space. Spain get the ball back but the game gets scrappy down the midfield

33' The Indians advance down the right flank but are dispossessed in the striking circle. Spain's turn to try a foray of their own.

VIDEO UMPIRE BRUCE BALE WAITS AS THE CROWD CAN'T BELIEVE THAT HARMANPREET HAS MISSED A STROKE

NO GOAL SAYS BRUCE BALE!!

HARMANPREET MISSES THE PS AND GOES UPSTAIRS!!

32' Cross down the left from Caldas' boys. The Indians alert in defence. Turn defence into attack and INDIA HAVE A PENALTY STROKE FOR AN INFRINGEMENT ON AKASHDEEP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

31' The Red Sticks begin Q3 with a sense of purpose - attempt to advance from the left. Fail to get the move right

GOAL!!

Hardik Singh, the gliding jatt scores second goal for India!

🇮🇳 IND 2:0 ESP 🇪🇸#HockeyIndia #IndiaKaGame #HWC2023 #StarsBecomeLegends @CMO_Odisha @sports_odisha @IndiaSports @Media_SAI
— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) January 13, 2023

SEVENTEEN CIRCLE ENTRIES FOR THE INDIANS AS OPPOSED TO JUST NINE FROM SPAIN

HALF-TIME: INDIA 2 - 0 SPAIN

A SHORT CORNER GOAL FROM AMIT ROHIDAS IN Q1 FOLLOWED BY A BRILLIANT SOLO EFFORT FROM HARDIK SINGH IN Q2 HAVE THE INDIANS SITTING PRETTY AT HALF TIME IN ROURKELA!!!

SPAIN HAD THEIR CHANCES BUT HAVE FALLEN SHORT IN THE STRIKING CIRCLE!!!

29' ALVARO IGLESIAS MISSES AN ABSOLUTE SITTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SPAIN MISS FROM THE DANGER ZONE

28' Clumsy tackle from Akashdeep Singh who gets a green card. The Indians have the ball back after a wasted effort by Spain

25' FANTASTIC EFFORT FROM HARDIK SINGH WHO CUTS IN AND ACROSS - THE INDIANS HAVE THEIR SECOND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ALTHOUGH LALIT WAS LURKING, THE BALL IN THE NET OFF A DEFLECTION FROM A DEFENDER'S STICK!!!

KRISHAN PATHAK DOES WELL TO SAVE THAT ONE - DOWN THE RIGHT!!!

24' SPAIN HAVE A PC - CAN THE INDIANS KEEP THIS ONE OUT???

24' Akashdeep tries a solo to no avail. Spain have a free hit outside the India circle - find no space and resort to back passes!!!!!

22' Spain find space down the right flank, but fail to get the ball into the danger zone. Amit Rohidas clears the lines for the Indians!!!

21' Fantastic ball into the India circle from Miralles but Iglesias fails to latch on in spite of a desperate dive!!!

GOAL!!

What a lightning strike by Amit Rohidas, giving India the lead.

🇮🇳 IND 1:0 ESP 🇪🇸#HockeyIndia #IndiaKaGame #HWC2023 #StarsBecomeLegends @CMO_Odisha @sports_odisha @IndiaSports @Media_SAI
— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) January 13, 2023

18' Spain attempting to build from the back lines. Make headway down the left flank. Fail to make it count though!!!

17' The Indians in control of the proceedings with Abhishek making his presence felt in the striking circle. Spain mop up.

END OF Q1: INDIA 1 - 0 SPAIN

It was Spain who began with gusto in the first minute but the Indians found their footing in the latter part of Q1 with Odisha boy Amit Rohidas giving the Indians the lead off their third PC!!!!

Harmanpreet goes direct but the ball is deflected wide!!!