India 1 Belgium 1
After a pathetic display in the first half, Indian women came up with some purpose in the next to carve out a 1-1 draw against Belgium, whose male counterparts today tamed otherwise mighty looking
Australia 3-1.
Belgium had everything on its side in the first half, even holding the ball 70 to 30 percent in their favour, but were not given that much elbow room by Ritu Rani’s team in the next. Belgium thus paid penalty for not utilizing the first half dominance. With silly mistakes India conceded as many as five penalty corners in the first half compared a solitary one in the next session, but they were wayward in conversion, though Indian defence was not upto the mark.
Here, the Belgium girls got a goal awarded off the second penalty corner, but alert an alert Indian girls spotted a player stepping ahead of D before the ball pushed, and thus went for the Referral, which negated the field umpires’ decision of goal. Again a PC was given, which was wasted by Belgium.
However, it’s a beauty of goal by dimunitive Anupa Barla minutes after lemon time that led India to the ultimate draw. Anupa Barla, standing in front of the goalmouth knelt in time to trap dead a forehand that came to her from the D, and then guided the ball along the stick towards the goal, even as goalie went ahead and fell.
This goal stood till the last minutes.
The last ten minutes were very tense, Belgium going for the press. But Indian defence with Deep Grace Ekka stood out, with neat clearances and long shots.
India, who lost to New Zealand 0-7 yesterday can now look forward to good outing in the remaining days.