Women's Hockey Pro League: India score late goal to beat Spain 2-1 — Highlights
Team India now have 3 wins in 3 matches in their maiden Hockey Pro League campaign.
Team India are playing their first match on home soil since 2019 (Hockey India)
The Indian women's hockey team beat Spain 2-1 in the first of two legs at the FIH Hockey Pro League 2021/22 on Saturday. They now have 3 wins from their first 3 matches.
Spain took an early lead dominated the first half, but goals from Jyoti and Neha helped India come back and secure a 2-1 win, their first on home soil in three years.
Highlights:
Sharmila Devi is named the Player of the Match. The Indian women's team will take on Spain in the second leg tomorrow.
Spain dominated much of the match but their ball control let them down in the second half. Jyoti and Neha scored the two goals for India. This is India's third win in their third match in the Pro League. They have 9 points from 3 matches.
Spain, who have dominated so much of the game, now look a little desperate. Another Spanish attack goes well wide. India look to eat up time in the seconds that remain. Vandana gets an attack going, Spain manage to block it out.
Spain show good attacking intent in the final quarter. Salima Tete then dazzles with a speedy run.
But it's Neha! Scored! What a time to score! And it's the hard worker Neha who turns the goal in. 7 minutes for Spain to fight back.
Time for the last quarter. Spain begin with some very open attacking play.
If scores are equal at the end of this quarter, the result will be counted as a draw. There will be a penalty shootout, with 1 bonus point on offer for the winner of that. If the teams want the full 3 points from this match, a result is needed in normal time.
India build on their pace as the second half wears on, Nikki Pradhan involved in more and more attacks.
Segu meanwhile goes close to scoring again, but Savita saves. A Spain attack interrupted by the hooter to signal the end of the 3rd quarter.
India show the most fluency they have today in the 3rd quarter. Jyoti gets close to getting a 2nd goal before Spain crowd out their circle.
Lalremsiami, Nikki Pradhan all involved as Spain are harried by a sudden flurry of Indian attacks.
The second half begins like the first half ended - with Spanish attacks. Again threatening India down the right flank even after the change of sides.
Janneke Schopmann's bellowing voice rings across the stadium as she urges the Indian team to hold their line. Alvarez gets another Spanish shot going just wide of goal.
Statistics from the first half heavily tilt towards Spain. Segu and Jyoti the goal scorers in the 1st 30 minutes.
Spain earn the first PC of the 2nd Quarter too, but the Indian defence again gets bodies in the way, at the cost of personal safety. Savita saves again! Navjot pushes the ball away out of danger. Spain still the team on the ascendancy.
Jimenez with a ferocious shot! Rattles the framework of the Indian goal.
Stay connected with The Bridge on #socials.