India vs Spain Hockey: India beat Spain 3-0 in mens hockey | Tokyo Olympics News
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With wins over New Zealand and the Spaniards, the Indians move to the second spot in Pool A, thanks mainly to a brace from Rupinder Pal Singh and a field goal from Simranjeet Singh. Australia stays top of the group.
Drubbed 1-7 by Australia in their last match, India produced a spirited performance against world No.9 Spain and scored through Simranjeet Singh (14th minute) and Rupinder Pal Singh (15th and 51st) to record a comfortable win in their third Pool A match at the OI Hockey Stadium.
India had earlier defeated New Zealand 3-2 in their opening fixture. Spain, on the other hand, are yet to register a win in the competition.
Spain drew 1-1 against Argentina before losing 3-4 to New Zealand.
India has made a strong comeback after losing 1-7 to Australia in its previous game. The teams defence especially was top notch today as Spain struggled to create clear-cut chances throughout the match.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS:
AND THE GAME COMES TO AN END! INDIA BEATS SPAIN 3-0!!!
59 Spain is winning free-hit after free-hit here. But it is not capitalizing on the changes provided. This might be the end of the tournament for the Spaniards.
56 Only Mandeep and Dilpreet Singh are making moves forwards for India. The side is determined to finish this match on a defensive high.
53 Pau Quemada wastes three penalty corners in a row for Spain. This has been the story of the day. The Spanish players havent been able to add the finishing touches to promising attacking moves.
51 GOOOOAAAALLLL!!!! INDIA TAKES A 3-0 LEAD!!! Rupinder completes his double after scoring off a penalty corner this time around.
50 WHAT A CHANCE FOR SPAIN! Lleonart did well to evade a few tackles and set up Alejandro Alonso at close range. However, Indias Surender Kumar blocked the latters shot.
48 India has resorted to full-fledged defending in the last quarter. Spain is taking numbers forward during attacks. The Indian back line has been solid so far. The team is one counter-attack away from scoring a third.
THE FOURTH AND FINAL QUARTER IS UNDERWAY!
Spain has exactly 15 minutes left on the clock to mount a comeback against India in this encounter.
THE THIRD QUARTER IS OVER!
45 DRAMA! Marc Bolto finds the back of the net after the hooter. But the Spanish players use a referral and win a penalty corner, which was won in the build-up before the Bolto shot. India successfully defends the PC
43 WASTED OPPORTUNITY! Spanish midfielder Vicenc Ruiz isnt able to control a pass from a teammate properly as India regains posession.
41 Mandeep Singh gets a chance to shoot up front. But the Indian forwards effort is blocked. Spain initiates a counter-attack now.
38 SAVE! Cortes comes to Spains rescue yet again. India has dominated possession in the last few minutes. The Spaniards are kind of struggling in the middle.
36 Spain skipper Miguel Delas receives a yellow card due to an additional Spanish player on the field. He will spend some time out due to the 12-player offence.
34 SHOT! India had numbers forward during a counter-attack. Dilpreet Singhs cross attempt was blocked by Spain keeper Francisco Cortes.
32 An early attack from Spain. Xavier Lleonart and David Alegre come up with some quick passing and enter the Indian D. Indias defenders stay alert and avert the danger.
THE THIRD QUARTER STARTS!
India holds a 2-0 lead over Spain at the end of the first half. Thirty minutes to go, stay tuned!
THE SECOND QUARTER IS DONE AND DUSTED!
30 CHANCE FOR INDIA! Hardik Singh shows off his skill and gets past several opposition players on the right flank. However, he isnt able to release a proper strike up front.
27 Spain has clearly dominated the second quarter but the team has struggled with its finishing on the field. It has attempted nine shots in total, with hardly anything on target.
24 ANOTHER PC FOR SPAIN! This was initially given as a free hit, but on referral the Spaniards win a penalty corner. Quemada shoots it just wide yet again.
22 Indian head coach Graham Reid has been a bit animated on the sidelines today. Hes constantly shouted out instructions to his players in the middle so far.
20 SHOT! David Alegre makes a decent move forward for Spain on the left flank. He eventually takes a shot from a narrow angle. However, Sreejesh makes a straightforward save
17 PENALTY CORNER FOR SPAIN! Pau Quemada has a brilliant shot on target. But PR Sreejesh makes the save for India. Xavier Lleonart takes a shot off the rebound but it goes wide.
THE SECOND QUARTER IS UNDERWAY!
Goals from Simranjeet Singh and Rupinder Pal Singh have handed India the advantage against Spain after the opening 15 minutes.
THE FIRST QUARTER ENDS!
15 ANOTHER INDIAN GOAL!!!! ITS 2-0 NOW!!! After a string of penalty corners, India won a penalty stroke. Rupinder Pal Singh converted it with ease.
14 GOOOOAAAAALLLLLL!!!!! INDIA TAKES THE 1-0 LEAD!!! This was a lethal pass through the ground from the right flank. The Spanish defence was caught napping as the ball travelled past a few players and reached Simranjeet Singh, who slotted it into goal from close range.
12 PENALTY CORNER FOR SPAIN! The specialist PC-taker Pau Quemada is not on the field. Alejandro Alonso steps in with the drag flick in his absence. The Indian back line averts the danger.
9 WHAT A PASS! The substitute Simranjeet Singh played a delightful pass up front after getting past two opposition players. But his teammate Hardik Singh wasnt able to receive it properly.
7 The Spaniards are finally enjoying some possession. They are just playing an organised passing game, frustrating the Indians a bit.
4 SAVE! Indian skipper Manpreet Singh fired a pass forward from long. Mandeep Singh got a slight deflection on it. However, Spain goalkeeper Francisco Cortes saved the shot with his leg.
2 Some early dominance from India here. Spain looks rusty, having given away the ball cheaply a couple of times already.
AND THE MATCH BEGINS!
The players make their way out into the field, and it is time for the national anthems, which will be followed by the toss in the middle.
The team lineups are out!
INDIA XI: PR Sreejesh (GK), Rupinder Pal Singh, Surender Kumar, Harmanpreet Singh, Amit Rohidas, Manpreet Singh (C), Hardik Singh, Nilakanta Sharma, Dilpreet Singh, Mandeep Singh, Sumit.
COACH - Graham Reid.
SPAIN XI: Francisco Cortes (GK), Alejandro Alonso, Marc Salles, Miguel Delas (C), Enrique Gonzalez, David Alegre, Roc Oliva, Llorenc Piera, Xavier Lleonart, Vicenc Ruiz, Pau Quemada.
COACH - Frederic Soyez,
"Where Sports Never Sleep"
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