Times of India: Great Britain beat India 4-3 in Sultan of Johor Cup

JOHOR BAHRU (Malaysia): India failed to continue their winning momentum, going down to Great Britain 3-4 in their second match of the 5th Sultan of Johor Cup junior hockey tournament here on Monday.

India had started their campaign with a convincing win against arch-rivals Pakistan on Sunday but on Tuesday they conceded the initial advantage to go down in the end.

With this win, Great Britain have avenged their finale loss to India last year. Great Britain were trailing 2-3 at the end of the first half but managed to keep their nerves to come back strongly from behind and register a victory.

Both the teams started with great speed, keen to stamp the first goal in their name.

In the 6th minute, James Simpson scored through a field effort to give Great Britain an early lead. In the 10th minute, they were awarded a penalty corner but this time it was saved by the Indian goalie.

India continued to attack and in the 17th minute, Varun Kumar from the right flank entered the D and with Sumit Kumar standing right in front of goal box, he passed the ball to him. But Great Britain captain Luke Taylor intervened the pass. He, however, failed to stop it cleanly and Sumit immediately pounced on the chance again and flicked the ball into the nets to score the equaliser.

India further increased their tempo and Sumit yet again scored a field goal in the 26th minute to take the lead 2-1.

Not wanting to lose the advantage, India started attacking the opponents D, and in 29th minute, Manpreet beat the rival goalkeeper to net the ball and extended the lead 3-1.

But Great Britain got a penalty corner in the very next minute and this time Taylor was on target.

With just two minutes left in the first half, Great Britain were desperately looking for the equaliser and earned another penalty corner, but a vigilant Indian defence yet again thwarted the opponents’ attempt to score.

At half-time, India were leading 3-2.

Into the second half, India got a penalty corner but it was saved by the rival goalkeeper, while Great Britain’s penalty corner was also cleared by the Indian goalie, but they scored the equaliser on the rebound through Jack Clee in the 47th minute.

Half way into the session, India had another chance to go one up through a penalty corner but the ball was hit wide of the goal box.

When the match looked like heading for a draw, Great Britain, in the 68th minute, scored through a penalty corner and sealed the match in their favour.

India will next face Argentina on October 14.