Three referrals in their favour, three penalty corners in their pocket, almost thrice more attacks than their rival, yet India could not post the elusive win in the on going world Cup.

It settled with 1-1 draw against Spain, thus opening its point on the scoreboard.

“We wanted a win today, but Spain was also good”, said the dejected Indian chief coach Terry Walsh.

India was close to winning the match, with two clear chances in the last five minutes, even prompting a Belgium crew member to comment that it seems it is India’s turn to score in the last minutes.

But it was not to be

Dharamvir, who is pick of the forwards here, got a gem of feed from right, and took a good hit from the centre of the circle, but could only hit the rushing Francisco Foretes, the famous goalie of Hockey India League.

Moments later, India got a penalty corner. With just a few minutes left in the clock, a turn around was expected, but Sardar messed it up. He could not gauge the pace of the turf, which was any case vagarious as the weather played big role in today’s game.

There were intermittent rains, with hot sun oscillating inbetween, and the blowing chilly winds, were all there today, a nightmarish atmosphere for continental players.

Sometimes the turf also looked dry, as a player was seen putting water before the ball was injected for the penalty corner conversion.

India did not play a structured and patient game today, which was the hallmark in the last two games, and were a bit wayward, and giving up moves easily, succumbing to pressure at slightest of press

India’s Rupinder Pal Singh converted a stroke to give India the lead in the 28th minute. India earned it when Mandeep Singh on the top of circle was tripped.

A minute before the hooter, Spain’s Roc Oliva struk to equalize. Indian goalie Sreejesh, who is having a wonderful tournament here, save first shot and three rebounds but the fourth shot by Roc was rock solid and went past him on his left. Indian defence otherwise was sluggish at that point of time.

Despite a flurry of action in the next half, scoreboard did not move.
Its second draw for Spain, while first point of India in three matches.