Harmanpreet Singh scored two goals in India’s win over Spain in the FIH Pro League.©X (old Twitter)
Captain Harmanpreet Singh scored two goals as the Indian men’s hockey team defeated Spain 4-1 in an FIH Pro League match in Bhubaneswar on Saturday. Harmanpreet converted a penalty corner in the 7th minute and a penalty in the 20th minute. Jugraj Singh converted a penalty corner in the 24th minute and Lalit Kumar Upadhyay converted a field goal in the 50th minute to give India an easy victory. Spain’s only goal came from a penalty stroke conversion by Marc Miralles in the 34th minute.
The match was veteran midfielder and former captain Manpreet Singh’s 350th international match since making his debut for India in 2011.
Spain started well and enjoyed possession for the first five minutes, but were unable to create any clear-cut chances.
Soon Hardik Singh scored India’s first penalty corner goal and Harmanpreet scored his 150th penalty corner goal in his 199th match.
A perfect penalty corner, strong and low, beating Spanish goalkeeper Luis Calzado.
In the first quarter, the home team’s defense was solid, and although they held the ball, they did not allow Spain to hit the target.
Spain earned a penalty corner at the start of the second quarter, but India’s veteran custodian PR Sreejesh stuck out his left foot to block the opponent’s attack.
India then won penalty corners in quick succession and from the second chance an illegal clearance of the ball awarded the hosts a penalty stroke.
Harmanpreet stepped up and converted the chance, giving India a 2-0 lead and scoring her 171st goal for the country.
India won two more penalty corners in the second quarter and, after missing the first chance, Jugraj converted the next with a powerful grounding flick past the Spanish goalkeeper’s legs.
Spain then stopped the play from progressing and secured a penalty corner, but Sreejesh thwarted his opponents with a double save.
Four minutes after the change of ends, Spain narrowed the gap with Mirales converting a penalty after a vicious tackle from Gurjant Singh in the circle.
India earned a penalty corner in the third quarter as well, but Jugraj missed the target.
Five minutes into the final quarter, Lalit was in the right place at the right time and made a spectacular field goal with his powerful Tomahawk.
After that, the Indians maintained their three-point advantage with solid defense and won a convincing victory.
India will face Netherlands in their next match on Sunday in Bhubaneswar.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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