~ Gurjant Singh (60′) was the lone goalscorer within the match ~
~ Amir Ali made his Senior Nationwide Crew debut towards Eire ~
Bhubaneswar, sixteenth February 2024: Gurjant Singh’s last-gasp winner helped India cap off the FIH Hockey Professional League 2023/24 Bhubaneswar leg with a slim 1-0 win over Eire on the Kalinga Hockey Stadium on Friday. Gurjant Singh (60′) was the lone goalscorer within the match.
India began the match on the entrance foot, making inroads with a structured assault. They earned their first penalty nook of the match within the third minute, however Harmanpreet’s drag-flick was saved by the Irish defender close to the publish.
Eire step by step settled in and had a greater share of ball possession within the opening quarter. Nevertheless, they couldn’t create a lot of a hazard because the Indian defence stored them away from the purpose. Their first actual probability got here within the eleventh minute, however Matthew Nelson’s shot went vast of the goalpost. India, however, had an underwhelming begin as they stored shedding the ball within the midfield, failing to create areas within the Irish circle, ending the opening quarter at 0-0.
It was a quiet begin to the second quarter as each groups probed every others’ defence however have been unable to seek out a gap. India had higher ball possession for almost all of the second quarter. They created potential goalscoring probabilities and earned as many as two penalty corners within the twentieth and twenty fourth minutes respectively, however a disciplined Irish defence denied the hosts from scoring, thus ending the primary half at a 0-0 stalemate.
The third quarter mirrored a well-known story, with India dominating the ball possession, however failing to create areas contained in the Irish circle. They nearly broke the impasse within the thirty third minute, however Akashdeep’s purpose was overturned as Mandeep made a foul on the Irish goalie. Nevertheless, they continued with the identical intent and created numerous goalscoring alternatives, however the Irish defence was on top of things to maintain the scoreline 0-0 on the finish of the third quarter.
India showcased urgency at first of the ultimate quarter and instantly earned a penalty nook, however Harmanpreet’s drag-flick was denied by the Irish goalie. They once more had a penalty nook within the 51st minute, however couldn’t avail the chance.
Within the following minute, Rabichandra Moirangthem gave Eire their first penalty nook of the match with a stick sort out simply exterior the circle. Their first try discovered the foot of the Indian first rusher and have been awarded a penalty nook. They got here near scoring, however Indian goalie PR Sreejesh made a shocking goalmouth save to disclaim Eire from taking the lead.
India stored piling stress on the Irish defence and their efforts paid off within the sixtieth minute because the hosts lastly broke the impasse by Gurjant’s subject purpose. Hardik Singh managed to play the ball contained in the crowded Irish circle, which was properly obtained by the Gurjant, who powered the ball into the online by the Irish goalie’s legs, guaranteeing India’s 1-0 win.
The Indian Males’s Hockey Crew will now transfer to Rourkela to play their return fixtures of the FIH Hockey Professional League.
India will face Spain of their first match of the Rourkela leg on Monday, nineteenth February, at 1930 hrs IST.
All matches of the FIH Hockey Professional League 2023/24 will likely be streamed on JioCinema, moreover, all India matches will likely be telecast on Sports18 – Khel.
