Valencia: In the first match of the 4-Nations Junior Hockey Invitational Tournament men’s leg, India beat Germany 3-1 at Valencia, today. In the women’s leg, India lost 3-0 to England in their opener.
In the Men’s leg, The two teams started off with a highly intense first half that saw a lot of attacking intent from both sides, only to have the attacks and counter-attacks, both thwarted by the opponents.
Starting the scoreboard ticking India won their first penalty corner in the 17th minute and Varun Kumar drag flicked the ball into the German goal. India increased the pressure after this goal only to be equalized by Kai Aichinger in the 22nd minute.
It was India again with a second from Varun in the penalty corner conversion, which took India with a 2-1 lead over opponents as they walked out for midway break. Coming off the break, India concentrated onto not letting any gap in for the German forwards to make anything out it, and any attempts were thwarted by an agile defense and the goal keeper Vikas Dahiya.
In the fourth quarter, as late as two minutes to the hooter, India got another addition on the scoreline as Ajay Yadav hit into the German goalpost to take the margin to 3-1. And this was the final score as Germans couldn’t match Indian skills in the field.
India will play Belgium tomorrow in the men’s leg.
Moving over the women’s leg (5-Nations Invitational Junior Cup), India started off strongly and their defense denied any early chances to England; however in the second quarter, India gave a sneak in to the English team as England converted a PC by Erica Sanders in the 22nd minute to hand England the lead, and the scoreboard ticking. Within next few minutes, India was down to 0-2 trail as Megan Crowson scored the second as the teams went into half time.
Coming off the break, the two teams kept playing to their strategies and another goal was conceded by India in the 43rd minute when Crowson doubled her goals tally. There were no further goals as India succumbed to a 3-0 loss in the opener.
India will play against Spain today in the Women’s leg.