K. ARUMUGAM

Two Mandeeps in the Indian side — younger Mor and experienced Singh — played a key role in India seeing a victory in the 4th FIH PRo League season opener today at the Kaling Stadium, Bhubaneswar, India. With spirited replies in the last quarter, the hosts romped home a fitting 4-3 win over New Zealand.

India played well in only two quarters, first and the last, whereas the visiting side maintained a decent benchmark performance in all through the match, yet ended up as losers, credit should go to Mandeep Mor and Mandeep Singh. Indian defence was rusty, but the scoring prowess of Mandeep Singh in particular helped India smile at the end.

It was the former who slotted the first goal a minute before the first quarter end. Trapping a perfect inside circle pass, he turned to his left and whacked a slap diagonally to send the ball to the other end of the cage. After that duel, India was put on backfoot by the hard working and precision-oriented visitors.

Mandeep Singh scoring against New Zealand                                                  Photo: Shamim Qureshy

Seven minutes before the halftime, Same Lane converted a stroke to even the score. PR Sreejesh in sixes and sevens in both the quarters he played with a result the team was under pressure.
Jake Smith enlarged the lead in the 35th minute through a field goal and then within a minute Same Lane again slotted, now through a penalty corner, to put the hosts in danger (1-3). However, when the resurgent Mandeep Singh stole a ball on the top of the circle, he was brazenly stripped, leading to David Stone to show the dreaded spot. Captain Harmanpreet Singh, who earlier conceded an easy penalty corner, fructified it to narrow the lead (2-3, 42nd min).

The fourth quarter certainly belonged to the home side. They were constantly on attack from both flanks.

The high – press technique worked. In one of the surges, younger Mandeep Mor surged ahead into the circle from the right flank and sent a high shot from near baseline, of which hawkish Mandeep just deflected it into the goal and then threw open both his hands (3-3, 52 min). Score levelled, Indians were unstoppable. Mandeep again struck three minutes before the hooter to start the season opener with a win.