WCW: India will stay in London and play a match more, if not more, as it drew the fighting States 1-1 and finished comfotable third behind Ireland and Great Britain in the pool table of the Women’s World Cup underway in London.
As per the new format in force in the tournament, the third finished will be given a play off chance with second of the other pool, the winner getting into the quarterfinal.
India let the States take the lead in a counter move and then in the first minute after the lemon time, captain Rani Rampal did her team proud with conversion of a penalty corner (1-1). And then the defence of India with Sunita Lakra and Nikki Pradhan and Gurjit saw off every move that the State girls keep the scoreboard static.
Indian girls, knowing the importance of the contest, started the proceedings briskly, and made a penalty corner situation, which was denied despite vociferous demands. Yet, India dominated the exchanges and made strong winds at the rival circle. When it got the first PC, Jasjit Kaur’s grounder was not hard to block by the goalie. Jasjit tried a high ball in the next penalty corner but it lacked any guile, again making the task of blocking easy for the goalie. Between these two penalty corners when captain Rani was nursing an injury outside sidelines, the States took the lead (1-0) in the eleventh minute. For the team that was defending and seemed would rely on counters, the chance came out of blue, when alert Margaux Paolino pushed the ball between the legs of goalie Savita who just made a grand save off a freehit.
India got two Penalty corners till the half time, but Gurjit failed with the third and then Rani Rampal took a direct hit which only hit the diving goalie.
The goal seemed to have accelerated the pace of the States who created more opportunities, and was unlucky not to increase the lead. All the three penalty corners of them too were saved by the packed Indian defence.
In the 31st minute, Rani herself manufactured a penalty corner at the top of the circle, of which she struck the deciding goal. This time she bent fully and hit the ball to the other corner holding stick half way. The force was too much for the British defence to spot and deflect.
Later Sunita Lakra made a goaline save in a one to one situation.
Udita, playing upfront, created some good moves but was bit loath to stop a perfect cross rolled across the goal mouth. There have been misses and hits on the other side, even the States going for a referral just 1.6 seconds left inthe clock.
Fortunately for India, which lost its referral midway through second quarter, the States’ referral was not successful, leaving the Indians to hug themselves bracing for another match in London