FIH World Cup Qualifiers LIVE: India v/s Italy semi-finals – Update, Results, Scores, Blog

India have grown in confidence after a subdued first quarter, but the deadlock remains.

Italy looked more dominating in the first 15 minutes, but whatever Sjoerd Marijne told the Indians in the quarter break seems to have turned around.

India came out with more intent and willingness to attack. They only have themselves to blame for missing two PCs. The Italian defence also held well for a majority of the second quarter before conceding those soft PCs.

A lot to play for on other side of this break.

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A harsh challenge on Navneet Kaur, who is rushing in from the right baseline.

India are handed another penalty corner. Can they score?

No, they can't. Navneet herself with the drag flick this time and it is nowhere near target. Doesn't even trouble Italy.

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Salima Tete is shoved from the back and India deservedly given a penalty corner.

India try a variation this time with Udita Duhan putting the ball back to Tete, the injector. 

Tete is quick to respond with a deflection, but the ball hits the post. A second PC miss for India!

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Yet another good circle penetration from India, this time from the right. Neha Goyal inside the circle feels India should have a penalty corner; the umpire feels otherwise.

India ask for a review and are proven wrong. They have lost a challenge.

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Salima Tete with a good run around the defence to enter the circle. She passes the ball well but it raps the Indian striker on the foot, drawing curtains on what was good move.

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This is much, much better from India already. They are eager to press forward and are doing it with some good intensity.

The Italian defence is clinical but if India can sustain this pressure for a few more minutes, it could be a different story.

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A penalty corner for India and Sushila Chanu's errs in trapping it. Navneet Kaur, however, is quick to realise and comes in from the second battery to collect and fires in a shot.

But the Italian goalkeeper is right on the money with her save.

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India with a fresh burst of energy to start the second quarter. They come in via the right base. Didn't quite make out who that was with the run, but it was brilliant. 

But the ball put into the circle is intercepted rather cleanly by the Italian defence to avoid danger.

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Federica Carta drills a ball into the circle. And Bichu Devi just lifts her leg and lets it thud into the net. It was hit from outside the shooting circle and hence won't be counted as a goal.

That bit of play brings an end to the first quarter.

Nothing too remarkable in that phase of play. India have had a couple of circle penetrations, but nothing has looked threatened.

Even for Italy, despite the constant pressure they were applying, the only real chance was that shot from Brea which was covered off well by Bichu Devi.

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Italy have settled in really well into the contest. They are moving the ball fluidly and the Indians are starting to feel the pressure.

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