Champions Trophy Hockey, Highlights: Determined Argentina Defeat India
Despite taking the lead twice in their Champions Trophy match, India fail to stop Argentina from registering a 4-2 win. This is India's second loss in as many days.
In what was an evenly-matched contest for most parts, Argentina showed they were more hungry for a win and defeated India 4-2 for their first points.
Following are the highlights from the match.
As many as 29 goals were scored in the four matches played today. In the other Pool B match, Netherlands defeated Germany 4-1. Monday is a rest day and the hockey action will continue on Tuesday when India take on the powerful Dutch.
Ironically, in their only other Champions Trophy match, Argentina had defeated India by the same margin in the 2003 edition of the tournament.
The final hooter is sounded and that's the end of the match. Not much noise from the stands as India go down 4-2 to Argentina.
58' Goal! Argentina slam one more in as Indians were pushing forward to leave the defense exposed. The scoreline is now 4-2 against the hosts.
53' Argentina cut India's lead twice today, and within seconds. India trail currently and have been unable to mount any solid attacks against a packed defense.
52' Note: All teams qualify to the quarterfinal stage regardless of their results in the group stage.
50' Argentina crowd their defense after taking the lead with only one forward patrolling ahead. India will look to find a way in if the team wants any point from this match.
49' Goal! Argentina take the lead for the first time in the match. Mazzilli slams the ball in for a field goal to make it 3-2.
Third quarter ends with a goal each from India and Argentina. Scores are level at 2-2.
43' India slam the ball in but Argentine players complain against high ball. TV referee upholds the decision and the scoreline remains unchanged at 2-2.
42' Another penalty corner given to the Indians. Argentina players looked to protest, chose not to eventually.
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41' Indian defense appears a bit wobbly now with Argentina looking to make the most of their momentum.
38' Goal! Lopez makes it 2-2 for Argentina. For the second time today, the team slams the ball in seconds after India take lead.
37' Goal! Gurjinder drags the ball in and puts his team in the lead once again.
37' India get their first penalty corner! Argentine players rush to the Spanish referee but he sticks to his position.
32' Indians make use of the full width of the pitch. Conceding the lead in the final seconds of the second quarter seems to have put more determination in the side to score.
The second quarter ends with two goals in the dying seconds.
29' GOAL! Argentina return the favour and slam a goal to make it 1-1.
29' GOAL! Akashdeep slams a field goal to put India in the lead. Argentine defense cracks and allows Indians to make the most of it.
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28' Raghunath makes a brilliant twisting move inside Argentine D but fails to clear a charging goalkeeper.
28' For the first time in a while, Argentina get the feel of the ball and try to slow the pace of the game.
26' India have had 53% possession and have had two more shots on goal than Argentina.
25' Like in Saturday's match against Germany, India making excellent use of the flanks but not able to crack the Argentine defensive web of Pedro Ibarra, Gonzalo Peilat and Juan Gilard.
22' More runs, more chances and more shots on goal but success continues to elude India. Argentina defense under pressure though and may crack if India can keep this up.
20' India make two good moves in the last three minutes but once again, are unable to finish it off with either a goal or a penalty corner.
17' Manuel Brunet shown the green card.
16' Argentina make a mess of their PC chance. Scamper to recover the ball but the crowd cheers the lost chance.
16' The first penalty corner of the match goes to Argentina.
First quarter ends goalless. Exciting hockey with both teams getting chances to score. No success yet though.
13' Argentina crowd Indian D but the hosts are finally able to cut loose and go for the attack. Get a shot but it goes above the goalpost. The three-man Argentine defense has survived so far.
10' Argentina once again find a crack in Indian defense and get a clear shot in but Sreejesh whacks the ball away.
7' Argentina make their first solid attack on the Indian goal but the defense thwarts the move.
3' Sunil hits at goal and rushes off to celebrate but it is disallowed as the ball had hit a Dharamvir's leg before hitting the back of the net. Smart move by the hosts to not call for a referral.
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2' Birendra Lakra helps India make an early foray into the Argentine D. Attack snuffed out by the Latin America players.
1' Argentina begin proceedings against an Indian side that has an early formation revealing an attacking intent.
* Both teams walk out - India in white, Argentina in blue - for the national anthems.
* Five minutes to go for the players to come out and once again, they will be greeted by a packed Kalinga stadium.
* Did you know? In World League Semifinals (2012), the Argentina team chose to nickname themselves Los Leones or The Lions.
* Argentina are currently ranked seventh in the world - two ahead of India. Third in 2008 - the year the team won the Sultan Azlan Shah tournament - is their best finish in Champions Trophy.
* In earlier matches today, Belgium and Australia played out a fierce 4-4 draw while England thrashed Pakistan 8-2.
India's performance against the Germany on Saturday evening was heartening for some 7000 fans who had gathered to watch the side play in Bhubaneswar. Attacks from the word go and good use of the flanks threatened to crack German defense open. The wall was hit and hit repeatedly. Each time the Germans managed to break loose and mount their own offense, they were not just thwarted but made to deal with menacing counter attacks.
Yet, India lost.
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It was heartbreak - one that only a final minute loss can inflict. Germany managed to score with 40 seconds left and it robbed the Indians of a draw. While the team knew they played well, the Indians were also aware that there were minor flaws that marked the line between triumph and defeat. Finishing was not great and despite attacks, the forward line failed to push for penalty corners. Against Argentina, the hosts would look to polish these and go for the kill.
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Argentina won't let Indians have an easy day though. The team gave away five penalty corners but had their own share of attacking moves as well. Up against Pirmin Blaak - the Dutch goalkeeper, the team failed to score and crashed 3-0.