India goes down 1-3 to Great Britain in Tri-Nation tournament

SANTANDER (Spain), July 15: India lost 1-3 to Great Britain in the inaugural match of the Tri-Nation invitational tournament, the team’s final warm-up event ahead of the Olympic Games, here late on Saturday evening.

India started well and was sharp in its attack. It took the lead in the third minute through Shivendra Singh’s deflection off a Tushar Khandker’s cross on counter attack. Within two minutes, Indian goalkeeper and captain Bharat Chetri pulled off a two-stage save, sweeping the ball off the goal-line after having initially parried Rob Moore’s reverse hit.

James Tindall scored the equaliser through a 17th minute penalty corner and the teams were locked 1-1 at the half-time.

In the opening minutes of the second half, Great Britain’s goalkeeper James Fair brought off a smart save on the near post off a Tushar Khandker attempt to score. Ashley Jackson put his team ahead in the 45th minute off a penalty stroke. Harry Martin made it 3-1 with a 62nd minute goal off a deflection by Chetri when Jackson scooped the ball.

The next match in the tournament will feature Great Britain and Spain on Monday. India will play its next match against Spain on July 18.