K ARUMUGAM
Harmanpreet Singh suggested yet again that Indian fortunes are indelibly linked to his performance in the 2024 Paris Olympics. ‘Captain Cool’ scored both goals in his country’s 2-0 win over a doughty Ireland in a Pool B hockey encounter at the Stade Yves-du-Manoir on Tuesday.
One came from a penalty stroke in the 11th minute followed by his trademark drag-flick in the 19th to give India a comfortable lead by half-time.
In contrast to their first two games against New Zealand and Argentina, India came out with attacking intent. It sustained them in their quest to collect three points from the encounter and virtually assure themselves a spot in the quarterfinals.
The bronze medalists at Tokyo 2020 appeared to take their foot off the pedal in the second half though that is not to detract from Ireland’s resurgence after the interval.
Ireland, coming into the game with two valiant defeats to top dogs Belgium (0-2) and Australia (1-2), fought back strongly in the third quarter – the intensity of their effort fetching 10 penalty corners.
That the Irish drew a blank from the set-piece owes much to superb No.1 running by Amit Rohidas and the astute goalkeeping by the iconic PR Sreejesh.
India are momentarily perched on top of the pool with seven points from their second win after an opening 3-2 verdict over New Zealand and a somewhat fortuitous 1-1 draw with Argentina.
The Kiwis cross swords with Los Leones later in the day in a match that has a crucial bearing on the quarter-final qualifiers.
Australia and Belgium with six points each from two straight wins clash in the last match of the day. India’s remaining pool engagements are against the two sides and one expects the team think-tank will keenly watch the proceedings.
India’s early pressure today was bound to tell. A penalty corner ensued in the second minute but Harmanpreet’s flick was blocked by the first runner.
India, who have yet to score a field goal in the campaign, were soon to take the lead but not from open play. Gurjant ran down the left and laid a clinical pass to Mandeep who went one-on-one with goalkeeper David Harte only to be upended and brook a penalty stroke..
Harmanpreet stepped up to fluently beat the seasoned Harte to his left to bring up his third goal and second from the dreaded spot. Eleven minutes gone, and India were, for the first time in the campaign, 1-0 ahead.
The loss of the referral early in the second quarter caused Indian supporters a fair bit of apprehension but India kept up the tempo which brought three penalty corners. After good No. 1 running foiled two, Harmanpreet made one count in the 19th minute with a drag-flick helped along by a deflection into the top right of the goal past a helpless Harte.
Ireland came into their own in the third quarter which they dominated. As India’s offensives ran out of steam, Ireland took control largely through the energy of their midfield and great overlapping runs of Daragh Walsh.
As many as eight penalty corners came the Irish way but the Indian goal survived. The best chance that fell to Ireland, however, was in open play but Sreejesh went prostrate to deny Benjamin Walker in the 43rd minute – a defining moment in the contest.
India appeared content to sit back on their two-goal cushion as Ireland pressed to gain something from the match but the final hooter arrived the scoreline remained unchanged.
India have a rest day on Wednesday before taking on Australia on Thursday morning.