FIH Pro League hockey: India defeats Argentina 4-3, avenge shoot-out loss in the first leg

The win came after Mandeep Singh’s decisive goal at the last minute of the game.

Hardik Singh also scored of penalty corner 17 minutes into the game. Two important penalty corners were stuck by Jugraj Singh at 20th and 52nd minute respectively, followed by Mandeep Singh deflecting a long pass into the goal with just 26 seconds left on the clock sealing India’s victory. The Argentine squad scored three goals, scored by, Della Torre Nicolas into 40 minutes, Domene Tomas in the 51st and Ferreiro Martin in the 56th minute.

After the match at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneshwar on March 20, 2020, India remains at the second spot on the table with 16 points from eight games, while Argentina remain at the fourth spot with 11 points from six matches.

Both the teams failed to score during the first quarter of the match. During the second quarter, Jugraj Singh and Hardik Singh were both able to convert penalty corners to goals within a gap of just three minutes to give India a two-point lead. Argentina was awarded a penalty corner by the referee but the decision was reversed after a review was taken by India.

Argentina presses hard in the third quarter of the match, and Della Torre Nicolas scored at the 40th minute after receiving a penalty corner. The Indian squad pushed through, trying to widen their lead, but the opportunity to score wasted by Sumit.

The fourth quarter was intense and action-packed, with four total goals scored. India had a lead of 2-1 at the beginning of the quarter, but Domene Tomas brought the match to a tie, scoring from a penalty stroke in the 51st minute. India responded fast and got a lead of 3-2 in the next minute, with Jugraj Singh’s impressive shot hitting the top of the Argentinian net with eight minutes left in the game.

India thought the their had widened with Jugraj Singh’s penalty corner, but the decision was reversed after a review found the ball hadn’t crossed the circle before Jugraj took the shot. 56 minutes into the game, Ferreiro Martin came through for Argentina and scored, bringing the match to a tie again.

Both teams were scrambling to get the final winning goal. Eventually, Mandeep Singh was able to deflect a long pass into the net leading to a victory for India with a score of 4-3.

India will be playing against England in their two-legged FIH Pro League tie on April 2 and 3.