Rio Olympics 2016 Hockey India vs Argentina Highlights: After German Heartbreak, India Edge out Argentina in a Thriller
After suffering a heart-break loss against defending champions Germany, India bounced back with a 2-1 win against Argentina courtesy of goals from Chinglansena Singh and Kothajit Singh. Catch hockey highlights of Rio Olympics 2016 India vs Argentina match here.
Goals from Chinglansena Singh and Kothajit Singh proved to be enough as India survived a late onslaught from Argentina to win their second match in men's hockey Pool B. Catch hockey highlights of India vs Argentina here. (SCHEDULE | MEDAL TALLY | NEWS)
21:05 IST: That's it from us for today. Do join us for India's next Pool B match against Netherlands on Thursday, August 11.
21:00 IST: This win takes India to No. 2 in pool B standings. Germany lead the group. Top four teams go to to the knockouts.
20:58 IST: India hold on to beat Argentina 2-1. This is their first win after 2009 against the South Americans. The win will keep India in fray for a quarterfinal berth.
20:57 IST: Less than two minutes left on the clock. India doing well to attack. Akashdeep Singh comes close to scoring but misses.
20:55 IST: A good counterattack by India will release some pressure. India lead 2-1 with less than four minutes remaining.
20:52 IST: India defending with all 11. Argentina look for penalty corners. India just too defensive now.
20:51 IST: But India escape this time. Six minutes left and India keep their lead.
20:49 IST: It's penalty corner No. 5 for Argentina. India under severe pressure.
20:48 IST: Sreejesh fists the ball away but Argentina get another penalty corner.
20:47 IST: This is becoming a thrilling match. Sreejesh brings off a fine save but the Argentines are relentless at this stage. Argentina get their third penalty corner.
20:47 IST: Peillat with a firm push but it is blocked by an Indian defender. Argentina win a long corner.
20:43 IST: Argentina win their second penalty corner. This is dangerous. Seven minutes left.
20:43 IST: The match is getting a bit physical as Argentina push for their second goal. Less than 9 minutes left, India lead 2-1.
20:39 IST: Argentina score to make it 2-1. Gonzalo Peillat with a great finish.
20:37 IST: Argentina pressing hard with long balls, but India backline doing well. India lead 2-0 with 12 minutes left.
20:35 IST: The last quarter (15 minutes) begins. This will be a crucial stage because India are known to concede goals in this phase of a match.
20:30 IST: India keep their 2-0 lead at the end of the third quarter. They have done well to defend their lead. Argentina have been very unimpressive so far.
20:23 IST: Kothajit's goal was India's first field goal of Rio 2016. He took advantage of a bad clearance after Ramandeep pressed the ball into the Dee.
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20:20 IST: India take a 2-0 lead, thanks to a field goal by Kothajit Singh in the 35th minute.
20:15 IST: Third quarter to start. Argentina are not too happy at this stage. They have not forced a single short corner so far.
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20:06 IST: It's halftime in Rio. India keep their slender lead. Argentina have been unimpressive with their skills. India have done everything to defend. Manpreet Singh got a yellow card towards the end of the second quarter. India look good so far.
19:58 IST: Close call again for India. Sreejesh somehow manages to keep the ball out of harm's way. India keep their lead with six minutes left in the second session.
19:55 IST: Good counterattack by the Indians through the right flank. Ramandeep Singh doing well with the passes.
19:52 IST: Argentina slow down the pace of the match. They are playing deep from their half.
19:46 IST: India survive a big scare in the dying seconds of first quarter. Manuel Brunet's shot hits the woodwork with Sreejesh completely beaten. India keep their 1-0 lead.
19:44 IST: All of India's four goals in Rio 2016 so far have come from penalty corners. Chinglensana is not a penalty corner specialist but this time he grabbed the chance very well and scored with a stiff flat hit to the goalkeeper's right.
19:39 IST: India take the lead in the 8th minute with a fine goal by Chinglensana Singh.
19:38 IST: India force a second penalty corner after Rupinder pal's drag flick was well saved by the Argentine goalie Vivaldi.
19:38 IST: India win their first penalty corner in the 8th minute of first quarter. Germany manage to clear it away.
19:33 IST: It's a cagey start to the match so far. India are looking to bounce back from yesterday's hearbreaking 2-1 defeat to Germany.
19:27 IST: Hello and welcome to the live coverage of the India vs Argentina Pool B hockey match.
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It will be a test of India's mental strength today. After the agonising last-minute defeat against Germany on Monday, India will need to regroup and take on a team that has been unbeaten in Rio so far.
Conceding last-gasp goals has been a problem with Indian hockey. Against Germany, it resurfaced once against as the defending champions pocketed full points courtesy a Christopher Ruhr goal with less than a minute left on the clock.
Barring that last-gasp goal, India looked good in both defence and attack against the Germans. India had the greater share of the exchanges but lacked finish. Rupinder Pal Singh scored his third goal of the tournament - all from penalty corners.
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Germany were clever and used their physical strength and pressure tactics in short bursts. Their second and match-winner was a product of that short spell of pace and skill.
India will face an Argentine side that has been on a high. They drew against the Netherlands in their first match and then whipped Pan-American rivals Canada 3-0 to stay No. 3 in the Pool with four points. India, with a 3-2 win (versus Ireland) and a loss, are lying fourth.
All six Pool B teams will be in action today. Germany play Ireland while the Dutch play Canada.