Printed Article: Times of India
Birthday boy and captain Diwakar Ram struck a hat-trick to gift India 3-2 win over World Champions Argentina in their opening Under-21
Test match at the Ciudad Club de Buenos Aires in Argentina.
India had some early scares with Argentina exhibiting electric forays, unnerving the visitors’ defence but they soon came to terms with the opposition stepping up their pace with flair and fluency.
Diwakar scored his first goal in the ninth minute and consolidated their position just 10 minutes later through a penalty corner conversion. India led 2-0 at the lemon break.
After changing sides, India increased their lead to 3-0 in 55th minute while the Argentines only reduced margins by sounding the board in the 64th and 67th minutes of the game.
Earlier, India forward Jay Karan was set up by midfielder Vikas Sharma inside the striking circle before he was obstructed by Nahuel Salis.
The resultant penalty corner was sunk in by Diwakar with a low drag-flick past goalkeeper Ezequiel Olivero in the ninth minute.
Stung by this reversal, Argentina tried to find an equaliser and earned their first penalty corner when a breach was committed inside the crowded circle by full back Innocent Kullu.
However, even though custodian Mrinal Chaubey warded off the attempt from Augustin Cabrera the umpire ruled it illegal resulting in a penalty stroke.
Chaubey rose to the occasions as he foiled Santiago Montelli with precision.
India continued their domination with more firepower from Pramod Kumar and Mandip Antil being fed by midios Vivek Sharma, Manjeet Kullu and Birendra Lakra.
They had their rivals caught on the wrong foot with strikers Danish Mujtaba and Amir Khan engineering crafty moves in the danger area.
Another orchestrated attack got India its second penalty corner 10 minutes later with Diwakar not disappointing the Indian supporters.
India maintained the same tempo upon resumption even though coach AK Bansal made rapid substitutions by trying out the greenhorns.
A shaken Argentina conceded another penalty corner in the 55th minute which the Indian skipper converted clinically in the roof of the net.
But thereafter complacency and over confidence appeared to have crept in. A few erroneous missed traps in the defence spurred Argentina to seize their opportunities as they scored two goals in quick succession in the 64th and 67th minutes through Alan Andino and Agustin Mazzilli.
India, however, held out the final minutes as Argentina went all out in the hunt for the equaliser.
Courtesy: Press Trust of India