Times of India: Armaan’s twin strike help India beat Tigers 3-2 in AHL
PERTH: Young striker Armaan Qureshi scored two goals to guide India to a 3-2 hard-fought win over Tassie Tigers and record their third victory in the Australian Hockey League, on Monday.
In a highly entertaining first quarter, both the teams traded early chances.
Jayden Pearson in front of Tigers’ goal saved a penalty corner in the opening minutes to deny India.
Soon after India defended strongly to deny the Tassies via penalty corner.
In the 10th minute, Armaan gave India the breakthrough with a field goal.
Two minutes later, the Tigers equalised with James Dick finding the net to draw level.
India then earned a penalty corner from the next move and Varun Kumar made it count by slotting the ball home to wrest back the lead heading into the first break.
In the second quarter, both the teams earned a few penalty corners but the defensive line-up stood tall as India went into the halfway break with a 2-1.
After the change of ends, India were content with passing the ball around neatly in their ranks, and soaked up the pressure from the Tigers going into the final break with the lead.
The Tigers, though, got the equaliser in the 50th minute via a penalty conversion by William Shaw.
But India struck back four minutes later to restore their lead when Qureshi scored his second of the game.
Speaking after the game, India coach Harendra Singh said, “The boys showed a lot of maturity in controlling the game and not giving away possession impatiently, in the periods where the Tigers were defending well. It was also this sort of mind set that helped us bounce back immediately, each time we conceded an equaliser. Overall it was a smart performance.”
India will play Western Australia Thundersticks in their next Pool B encounter on Wednesday.