Harmanpreet Singh scored a goal and veteran goalkeeper PR Sreejesh stood like a wall in the closing minutes as the Indian men’s hockey team took a late lead over New Zealand to seal a close 3-2 win in their opening Olympic Games match here on Saturday. achieved.
Harmanpreet (26th and 33rd minutes) scored a double goal for India, while Rupinder Pal Singh (10th) scored the second goal for the eight-time former champions, currently ranked fourth in the world, in a Pool A match of OE Hockey. . Stadium here.
For New Zealand number eight, Ken Russell scored from a penalty corner in the sixth minute before Stephen Jaynes (43rd minute) narrowed the margin of defeat in the match.
India will next face the mighty Australia on Sunday.
The Indians were dealt a blow in the sixth minute when Russell found Sreejesh in the upper right corner of the Indian goal with a fierce blow. Even though he did not score, striker Mandeep Singh was a live-wire for India and earned a penalty corner for his side, which resulted in a penalty stroke, allowing Rupinder to equalize in the 10th minute.
New Zealand were not to be left behind as they conceded a run to get the Indian defense four consecutive penalty corners but all but wasted. Gurjant came close to giving India the lead with a counter-attack but his effort was saved by New Zealand goalkeeper Leon Hayward.
Four minutes later in the second quarter, Hayward came on again when he pulled off India captain Manpreet Singh’s lob from a face-off position. But six minutes later, Harmanpreet gave India a 2-1 lead till half time.
Three minutes after the change of ends, Harmanpreet was in the thick of things again when she converted her second penalty corner of the day with a precise strike. India got another penalty corner minutes later but this time the Kiwi defense saved Harmanpreet’s effort.
But the match came to life when Jenness scored a goal in the 43rd minute for Sreejesh with a brilliant finish at the near post. Three minutes from full time, Lalit Upadhyay’s strike from the top of the circle was brilliantly blocked by Hayward to keep New Zealand on the hunt.
It was all New Zealand in the final few minutes of the game as they fought hard to equalize and earned three penalty corners in quick succession in the process, but Sreejesh came to India’s rescue, making some brilliant saves to keep the opponents at bay. . With 24 seconds to go, New Zealand secured another penalty corner, but once again the experienced Sreejesh came to India’s rescue and helped his side score full points from the game.
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