Gurjinder Singh’s brace helps India win series by 2-0
New Delhi, 05 August 2015: Taking forward its winning spree, India Men Hockey Team yet again defeated France by 4-1 in the second match of the Europe Tour, being played at Wattigies Sports Centre today.
It was India’s Gurjinder Singh who proved his mettle by scoring a brace and stood confident enough to give a strong challenge to the French defence and helped India win the match by 4-1 and the series by 2-0 against France.
While, the French Team looked determined and displayed their best stick work throughout the first quarter, the Indian men were in no mood to give away the scoring to the opponents and took away the ball from them reflecting great speed and short passing skills. By the virtue of their even rotation all through the field, India was awarded with a penalty corner but it was efficiently saved by the French goalkeeper. France was continuously looking to pierce the Indian defence but India went on attack and Gurjinder Singh’s drag flick from a penalty corner opportunity in the 14th minute helping India open the scoring account and take the lead to 1-0 over France by the end of the first quarter.
Entering the second quarter of the game and undeterred by the Indian attack, a field goal eventually landed from the stick of Baumgarten in the 21st minute which equalized the scores at 1-1. Both the teams made several forays to enter the opponent’s D and it was France who got a penalty corner but failed to convert it as Kothajit Singh saved the shot. India was seen attacking from both the flanks and found its second goal when Amir made full use of a penalty corner and took the rebound hitting the ball straight into the net in the 30th minute which gave India a 2-1 lead by the end of the first half.
Unfolding the third quarter of the game, the teams looked confident and made full efforts to utilize the scoring opportunities that came in. The Indian goalie PR Sreejesh stood as a wall for the Indian defence whenever France tried to penetrate the goal- box. The Indian men ensured good possession of the ball and after earning a couple of penalty corners, the luck favoured the Indian side as Gurjinder Singh successfully converted another penalty corner in the 44th minute to advance the scores to 3-1 in favour of India.
In the last quarter of the game, both the teams battled a tough fight between the sticks in order to restrict the opponent to score further goals. It was France who entered the India’s inner circle, but Birendra Lakra tackled the ball efficiently and deflected it. Just when France was trying to get control of the game, India showed their supremacy and scored the fourth goal through a penalty corner converted by Rupinder Pal Singh in the 52nd minute. While, France was seen hunting for a goal, India concluded the game and earned a much deserved win with 4-1 on the scoreboard.
India will play their next match against Spain on 10th August 2015 at 22:30 IST at Sant Cugat del Valles.