Though missed out to outscore in the regulation time, despite outplaying their rivals in all departments of the game, Indian women came out in colours in the ensued shoot out 5-4 to win the crucial 5-8th classification match against Italy today at Antwerp in the Hockey World League Semifinal. The score stood 1-1 at the regulation time, Rani Ramphal doing the equalizing job.
India will now play for the 5th position. If India can win the 5th place match, it would surely ensure its entry into the Rio Olympics. Because, a couple of nations in the semifinal line up here in Antwerp, like Australia, are expected to win their continental championship which will lead to next placed teams to fly Rio.
Rani Ramphal, the age-less wonder girl, equalized in the third quarter 1-1 and then scored both her quota in the first and second set of shoot outs.
Once Rani Ramphal gave the lead in the second set of shoot out, goalie Savita Punia came out timely, and cleared the rival striker for the team’s celebration.
With this duo’s heroism, India made it to the 5-6th position contest.
Earlier in the regulation time, Indian girls outplayed their European rival in terms of ball possession, circle entry, shot at goal, number of penalty corners etc, but missed out on goal scoring.
Further, its two players got yellow cards in the crucial fourth quarter, but the Indian girls did not allow Italy any elbow room.
It was in fact the Italians scored in the first, but in the third quarter a sloppy clearance from a defender on the edge of Indian circle miscued the ball, which Rani Ramphal, like a hawk, bounced on, and in the one to one with charging goalie, struck with peach of a scoop that hit the other side net.