Asian Champions India retrieved enormous prestige it lost yesterday against Germany, with a stellar performance against Pan American Champions Argentina in their own dungeon to walk away with 2-1 win.
Dominating first three quarters, India led 2-0 till before facing fast and fury of Argentina who have not lost to India in the last one decade in major FIH events.
Kothajit Singh and Chinglensana struck for India in the first half while Gonzala Peillat posted a consolation goal in the fourth quarter, which witnessed all drama in every move each side created.
Argentina, trailing by two goals, without even getting a single penalty corner till then, returned to as a transformed side in the last quarter, and it told on the Indian defence.
Its experienced forwardline created amble moves upfront which resulted in number of penalty corners and referral in the last quarter.
Gonzalo made it memorable for his side with his first strike off first penalty corner (2-1). Thereafter, both sides opened up matching move for move. Unlike the previous match in which India conceded a last gasp winner to defending champions Germany. India, once warded of third quarter blues, did not contend with covering their circle, but went full steam with attacks.
Chinglensana unleashed an acute angled forehand after a penalty corner push could not be stopped properly to bemuse thrice Olympian goalie Vivaldi to get India its lone goal till half time.
India got its first penalty before this. Rupinder, as expected, sent a powerpacked flicked aiming centre of cage, but goalie managed to palm it strongly, leaving the rising ball fall away from striking circle.
Chinglen’s was a surprise element. Its a push he stopped loose standing next to Raghnath faking movements to confuse Vivaldi. The tactic paid off much to the happiness of Indian crowd, mostly from London.
INDIA: PR Sreejesh(gk), V Raghunath, Rupinder Pal Singh, Kothajit Singh, Surender Kumar, Harmanpreet Singh, Manpreet Singh, Sardar Singh, Devinder Walmiki, Danish Mujtaba, SK Uthappa, Nikkin Thimmaiah, SV Sunil, Chinglensana Singh, Akashdeep Singh, Ramandeep Singh. SB: Pardeep Mor, Vikas Dahiya. CHIEF COACH: Roelant Oltmans, MANAGER: Tushar Khandker, Physio: Shrikant Iyenkar, Masseur: Arup Naskar, Video: Aadhithya Chakravarthy, Scientific advisor: Mathew Fyles, Analytical Coach: Roger van Gent.
Argentina: Juan Vivaldi(gk), Gonzalo Peillat, Juan Gilardi, Pedro Ibarra, Matias Paredes Lucas Vila, Juan Lopez, Matias Rey, Manuel Brunet, Agustin Mazzilli, Lucas Rossi, Facundo Callioni, Lucas Rey, Joaquin Menini, Ignacio Ortiz, Juan Saladino CHIEF COACH: Carlos Retegui, MANAGER: Alejandro Doherty
Photo Courtesy : Getty Images