In the last game of India in the pool B fixture, Indian women needed a 3-goal margin win to be in the quarter finals, but the Indian eves had a disastrous outing against Argentina and lost the 5-0 to make exit from the Rio Olympics on Saturday.
As we have seen it, it’s easier said than done. The Indian women’s hockey team yet again produced a naive performance and were outplayed by the Argentines and now finish at the bottom of the table with just one point, the lone point coming from a draw against Japan.This is not a tournament that the women will remember fondly.
With an attempt of seeking their first win after returning to women’s Olympic hockey since their 1980 appearance, the Indians were left to defend their D for most part of the match wherein the Argentines played the part of the pacemaker.
From the very beginning, Argentina started on a dominating note keeping India at the back-foot. Almost throughout the game, the more agile Argentinians kept the possession with them for long periods of the match while the Indians gave away the ball easily to their opponents.
Indian goalie Savita Punia got busy early in the game by saving two back to back attacks in the first five minutes of the game. The Indian eves looked disappointing in their movement and passing thus giving away little chances that came their way. At the end of the first quarter Punia had done her bit of not letting the score-board go against them by saving each attempt made by the Argentines.
Second quarter started on the same note again, only this time even more dangerous for the Indians as they conceded a goal in the first minute by a penalty corner by Martina Cavallero who later helped her team by scoring the last inside the net. It was followed by another penalty conversion by Maria Granatto as a rebound in the 23rd minute.
Granatto showed great skills who cut through the Indian defence like a knife through butter with support coming from skipper Carla Rebecchi. Rebecchi struck the scoreboard in the 26th minute taking her side up by 3-0.
The Argentine front three of Merino, Cavallero and Rebecchi put India though a rough day. Agustina Albertario got her name on the scoresheet in the 27th minute with a reverse slap in the box.
Given the match scenario, Belen Succi, the Argentina goalkeeper was substituted for Mutio.
Struggling to catch up for the lost time, pace and goals, India got their first penalty corner only in the 40th minute of the game. The new goalie Mutio succeeded at saving the penalty conversion.
The last quarter was played inside India’s 23 yard line and several attempts were made to shrink the losing margin but to no distress. The sound of the meant Argentina made the cut to the next round and India finished with a wooden spoon.