Hindustan Times: Hockey World League Semi-Final: India women lose to Ireland, finish eighth

India conceded two goals in as many minutes in the final quarter as they lost 1-2 to Ireland in the 7th/8th place match of the Women’s Hockey World League (HWL) Semi-Final.

India surrendered a one-goal lead to go down 1-2 to Ireland and finish eighth in Women’s Hockey World League Semifinal on Saturday.

Despite maintaining an upper hand throughout the match, India allowed their opponents score twice in the final quarter.

India started the first quarter slowly compared to Ireland, but shifted gears 10 minutes into the game.

It was perhaps Ireland winning the first penalty corner of the match that came as a wake-up call for India in the 10th minute. Monika though was brilliant at the goal-line to defend the drag-flick with her stick.

In the 15th minute, India won a penalty corner which was converted by Gurjit Kaur, who came up with a well-executed flick, firing the ball low to the left giving India a 1-0 lead.

There was plenty of action in the second quarter with India dominating with improvised circle penetrations.

During one such move in the 24th minute, Navjot Kaur was obstructed by Ireland goalkeeper Ayeisha McFerran which resulted in a yellow card.

India were awarded a penalty stroke but nothing came off it with Ireland’s stand-by goalkeeper Grace O’Flanagan making a great save.

India lost another opportunity to double their lead when a goal was disallowed as it came off the back stick of striker Rani in the 28th minute.

Coming into the match after a 10-minute halftime break, India won back-to-back penalty corners in the 31st minute but couldn’t convert the chance. India won two more penalty corners in the 43rd minute but Rani’s flick was blocked away by O’Flanagan.

Although Ireland attackers made forays into the circle and attempted shots on goal, goalkeeper Savita was on top of the job.

Less than two minutes into the fourth quarter, Ireland levelled the score with a clinical variation off a penalty corner that saw Kathryn Mullan finding a perfect deflection to put it past Savita in the 47th minute.

Ireland pumped in another goal through a penalty corner converted by Lizzie Colvin in the 48th minute to take a 2-1 lead over India.

Though India attempted to equalise, the Ireland defence stood strong.