K. ARUMUGAM

pain scored a comprehensive 4-1 win over India in the 2023 FIH Men’s Junior World Cup at the Bukit Jalil stadium in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday to shoot to the top of Pool C and leave India at third position with a round of matches to go.

The Spanish are now on six points after a 7-0 win over Canada in their opener. India have three, coming into the match with a 4-2 win over South Korea. The Koreans also on three points are at second spot after a 4-1 win over Canada gave them a better goal difference.

The doubtless hero for the Iberians was goalkeeper Jan Capellades who duly picked up the player of the match award.

The Spanish custodian pulled off four remarkable saves to keep his team well on top even though India looked dangerous for long spells.

Spain scored through Cabre Verdiell (1’ fg, 41’, pc) and Andreas Rafi (18’ pc, 60 ps) while India’s lone strike came through Rohit (33’, pc)

Spain had the measure of their illustrious opponents in the first two quarters.

Verdiell had the ball in the Indian goal with the match not quite a minute old, doing so with a quicksilver back-hander that crashed to the boards past a hapless Mohith.

India, looking for their third JWC title back-pedalled after the reverse and seemed to be run ragged by their Iberian opponents.

A PC to Spain ensued and Rafi found the net with a fluent drag flick that stood the test of a referral after India’s Rohit claimed the ball brushed his body en route to the net.

India began to claw back into the contest with a sustained effort culminating with Sudeep’s sharp strike that Capellades warded off brilliantly.

Coach CR Kumar’s halftime chat revealed his hopes of India carrying on the momentum.

His wishes were granted. India forced two early third-quarter penalty corners. The second came with a stroke of fortune as Spain’s PC defence was reduced by two – one for an early break from the line and the second, a green card offense for time wasting.

Rohit slammed home in the 33rd minute to beat a depleted PC defence and bring India right back.

Mohith in the Indian goal then kept the Spanish, attempting to regain their poise, at bay while carrying on his good work of the first half.

At 1-2, the complexion of the game had changed but Spain regained their two-goal cushion when Verdiell scored from a PC, sending his flick between the postman and a diving Mohith.

Then it was the Spanish goalkeeper who thwarted India’s zest and sometimes desperation to reduce the margin bringing off a splendid save from Araijeet’s high drag-flick off a PC.

India did their cause no good when Boby Singh Dhami earned himself a yellow card but his team kept up the pressure.

A flurry of penalty corners lead to another superlative save by Capellades and Spain, attempting to rub it in, were denied by Mohith who kept Amat at bay.

India lacked the finishing touch as Capellades’ presence in the Spanish goal proved crucial as the minutes ticked by.

Wave after wave of Indian raids came to nought and, against the run of play, Spain forced a penalty stroke after Mohith upended Bruno Font with less than a minute to go. Rafi stepped up to dispatch home despite Mohith getting a touch.

India take on the pool’s cellar team Canada next while Spain cross swords with South Korea with the quarterfinal slots for the top still open.