The Indian women’s hockey team registered a 4-2 win over USA in their first match of the two-legged FIH Pro League 2021/22 in Rotterdam on Tuesday. Vice-captain Deep Grace Ekka (31), Navneet Kaur (32), Sonika (40) and Vandana Katariya (50) scored a goal each in India’s win, while Danielle Grega (28′) and Natalie Konerth (45) scored a goal each. ) was the goalscorer for the United States.
It was a quiet start to the match, with both the teams trying to make room in each other’s striking circle but without causing much damage. It was the United States who launched the first real attack in the 10th minute when Megan Rodger’s run on the left bank earned itself a penalty corner, but missed to convert it. two minutes later, India He also won his first penalty corner of the match, but Gurjeet missed the opportunity, thus ending the quarter at 0-0 pace.
The Indian team displayed their attacking intent immediately at the start of the second quarter and got a chance to break the deadlock, but the USA defense kept the ball off goal. In the 21st minute, USA earned back-to-back PCs, but the Indian defense unit kept USA away. India reacted swiftly and created potential goal-scoring opportunities but the United States’ defense once again thwarted their opponent’s every attempt. He also earned his second penalty corner of the match but missed to convert it. At the other end, the United States broke the deadlock, with only two minutes left for the second quarter to end. An aerial ball from Erin Matso found Danielle Grega in the right spot in the Indian circle and just in time to deflect the ball into the net as her team thrashed his team 1-0 at the end of the second quarter.
Trailing a goal, India came out all guns blazing and scored two goals one after the other in the first two minutes of the second half. Vice-captain Deep Grace Ekka scored from a penalty corner in the 31st minute while forward Navneet Kaur scored India’s second goal in the 32nd minute of the match. The Indian team picked up the pace and secured a penalty corner in the 36th minute. However, Gurjit’s attempt was again blocked by the USA defense line. India slowly took control of the proceedings in the 39th minute with the help of Sonika to take the score 3-1. However, USA tried to fight back and their efforts paid off as they won a PC with only a few seconds to spare for the third quarter. Natalie Konerth found the back of the net on the rebound and made it 2-3 at the end of the third quarter.
USA started the final quarter on the offensive and created a chance early on, but young goalkeeper Bichu Devi deflected the threat. Experienced forward Vandana retaliated in the 50th minute to restore India’s two-goal lead. USA did not give up easily and earned another PC in the 53rd minute, but failed to convert it. The Indians took control of the game in the final stages of the game and eventually went on to win 4-2 to consolidate their place in the third position on the points table with 27 points.
The Indian women’s hockey team will take on USA in Rotterdam, Netherlands on June 22.
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