Argentina punished India ruthlessly for the lapses in their defence beating the host nation 4-2, in their second encounter in Pool B, on Sunday, at the ongoing Hero Hockey Champions Trophy ’14, at the Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneshwar.
India now languishes last in Pool B with no points and will now play the World Champions Netherlands on Tuesday.
For India the goals came from Akashdeep (30th minute) and Gurjinder Singh (37th min). Lucas Vila(30th), Juan Lopez (37th), Agustin Mazzili (49th) and Joaquin Menini (59th) scored for the World Cup Bronze medallist.
The match commenced at a frantic pace, with the Indians going into the attack from the word ‘Go’. Their forwards kept lurking in the Argentine circle waiting for an injection from the midfield. The link-men, led by Sardara and Kothajit, didn’t disappoint as they kept sending down fliers and well-directed sweeps into the Argentine circle.
Dharamvir, Akashdeep, Ramandeep and Danish, got at least one chance each to slot the ball into the Argentine nets. Even the high-voltage atmosphere couldn’t inspire the forwards to score the elusive goal.
In the last minute of the second quarter, a long cross from Gurjinder caught the Argentine defence napping, and the young Akashdeep, standing next to the Argentine post, comfortably deflected to get India their first goal in the Champions Trophy and India went up 1-0.
However, before the ecstatic crowd could settle down, the Champions Challenge-I winners gave India a taste of their own medicine – long pass followed by a deflection at the goalmouth. Lucas Vila, positioned at the goalmouth and marked by Gurjinder, slotted a long pass from the left and drew parity at 1-1 to take their team into the half time with a sigh of relief.
Later on, he was adjudged the man of the match.
After the change of ends, in the 36th minute, India earned a penalty corner when Gonzalo Peillat carried the ball. The young drag-flicker Gurjinder, came up with a deceptive flick directed to the corner of goalpost. A clueless Vivadli dived high on to his right but was late by a fraction of second. India led 2-1.
Unfortunately, yet again, the jubilation for the Indian fans lasted for not than a minute. In a goal scramble that followed moments later, a sweep from close range by Gonzalo Peillat was deflected by Juan Lopez, inches away from the Indian post. The score board read scores levelled at 2-2.
Thereafter, while the Latin Americans looked threatening, the 9th-ranked Indians looked sloppy in their defence. The Pan American champions were rewarded for their efforts in the 49th minute.
A lovely cross flick from Joaquin Menini found a lousily marked Agustin Mazzilli around the Indian goalpost. He trapped the ball and gently nudged it in to the Indian post taking Argentina up 3-2 ; a resentful Sreejesh screamed in agony on his team mate for not marking Mazzilli correctly.
The final dampener came from Joaquin Menini when he tore apart the Indian defence in the 58th minute. Sliding down, on a quick pass off Mazzilli from the baseline, he slotted one straight between the feet of a hapless Sreejesh.
Monday is a rest day at the Hero Hockey Champions Trophy ’14.