S2H Team

India revived their campaign with a 3-1 victory over New Zealand in a crucial pool ‘B’ match of the Olympic Qualifying tournament at the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh stadium in Ranchi on Sunday.

The home team’s success on the day owed much to planning on and off the pitch revealed in Head Coach Janneke Schopman playing midfielder Salima Tete and defender Udita in the starting line-up today.

It bore dividends almost instantly with Salima’s verve and dash setting up Jharkhand statemate Sangita Kumari to slot home for India’s opening goal within the first minute of play.

Salima’s customary prowess on full display left no one guessing where the Player-of-the-Match award would go and it was her verve and energy that sparked an effervescence lacking in the first match.

India faced a daunting task, given the encounter was a virtual do-or-die battle after the 0-1 reverse against the Americans. The hosts’ predicament was aggravated with a dismal head-to-head record against New Zealand that yielded no wins, a draw and 11 defeats in the last 12 encounters.

But after the ladies in blue struck in the first 60 seconds, the tension was released. The fluency and sparkle returned and self-doubts disappeared.

But it still didn’t look all that easy despite the momentary euphoria on the pitch and bench. The Black Sticks took over after conceding, dominated possession and pieced together some dangerous moves.

The pressure on the Indian citadel told and New Zealand, coached by the iconic Phil Burrows, were back on level terms from a first penalty corner after India’s referral failed. Megan Hull’s slap hit went through post-player Monika’s legs to make it 1-1 in the ninth minute.

India, however, roared on by the capacity crowd, regained the lead in the 12th minute when Udita slap-hit a penalty corner through the post-player’s legs – a carbon copy of Hull’s strike.

That was an important go-ahead goal. The Kiwis looked threatening in their patient, purposeful build-ups and a two-goal cushion was badly needed to stave off threats, particularly from their veteran Olivia Merry.

Surely enough, 3-1 it was in the 14th minute when a botched penalty corner proved a blessing in disguise. The award emanated after a dazzling run by Salima, going across the pitch and forward on the left-hand-side.

After the routine stuttered, Salima worked the ball to Beauty Dung Dung who fired in off a defender’s stick to send the decibels soaring.

New Zealand, mindful that they next play USA as opposed to India who play low-ranked Italy, attempted to win battles in the midfield in a quest to claw back into the contest.

Still enjoying the edge in possession, Kiwi endeavours brought penalty corners – five in all, the same number conceded – but the Indian defence kept its composure.

The US made it two wins out of two with a 2-0 verdict over bottom-placed Italy earlier in the day. Ninth-ranked New Zealand, who beat Italy 3-0 on the opening day, now need to beat the US, ranked 13th, on Tuesday, to enhance hopes of progressing through to the semi-finals from the four-team pool.

Seventh-ranked India, who play the last pool ‘B’ game on the same day, will be hopeful of scoring a handsome win over 19th-ranked Italy to boost their goal difference in case of a three-way tie on six points with the US and New Zealand.

In pool ‘A’, Japan forced a sensational 1-1 draw with fancied Germany after Chile routed The Czech Republic 6-0.