Olympic hockey qualifiers: Udita, in her 100th match for India, led with two goals, keeping the hosts on track to clinch a ticket in the Paris Games.
It took India 45 seconds to score their first goal. It took the last second for Italy to get theirs. In the interim, India had done more than enough to secure a semi-final position in the FIH Women’s Hockey Olympic Qualifiers and keep their aspirations for the 2024 Paris Olympics alive. What appeared to have gone dreadfully wrong in the opening loss to the United States was put back together with two good triumphs against New Zealand and Italy, the latter by 5-1 on Tuesday.
Coach Janneke Schopman could smile afterward because the first hurdle had been cleared. World Number 5 and Pool Germany await in the semi-finals on Thursday, and a defeat may still offer the squad another shot at the Paris trophy with the losing semi-finalists from the USA-Japan match.
ALSO READ: Rasmus Højlund Scores To Complete Manchester United’s Amazing Comeback Against Aston Villa
With the United States defeating New Zealand 1-0 earlier in the day to secure first place in Pool B, the hosts’ job was simple: win or draw against the 19th-ranked Italians. They won with a free-flowing start and finish. According to the coach, India “struggled a bit before picking themselves up and dominating the game” during the 40-minute span between the first and second goals.
A number of boxes were checked. Udita, in her 100th international match, added some happiness to India’s penalty corner (PC) difficulties with scores in the first and 55th minutes. Deepika, the team’s key dragflicker who had yet to score in this competition, eventually did so with a penalty stroke in the 41st minute. Salima Tete (45th minute) was resourceful, and Navneet Kaur (53rd minute) capped off the night with a great field goal.
“I’m happy that we’re here,” Schopman said. “What people don’t realise is that this is an extremely stressful tournament for the players. Everybody wants to be in the top four and have a chance to go to Paris.”
That was evident in the faces of the New Zealand players, who walked off the turf in tears after their loss while the Indians made their way into it.The hosts’ start on Tuesday was similar to their performance against the Black Sticks. India got off to a fast start. A Monika slap inside the circle, followed by a Sangita Kumari shot at goal, gave India a penalty kick in the first minute. Udita moved up to convert as the ball bounced over the diving Italian goalkeeper, Lucia Caruso.
The Italians were careless with the ball and posed little threat in the opening half of the quarter. They started getting a look-in as the game went, and with less than a minute left, they got their first PC. However, after Antonella Bruni failed to trap the ball, the Indian counter-attack was spectacular, bringing the spectators to their feet. Dungdung Beauty seized the ball and made a swift solo run along the left flank, dribbling past Italian captain Sara Puglisi and cutting into the circle. The local girl attempted a diving shot, but Caruso stood in the way.
India was making movements to waltz inside the circle, but as has been their habit, they frequently withered there. Deepika scooped up the ball deep in India’s half, went unopposed into the Italian D from the left, and lost the ball there in the 25th minute. Salima attempted another circular entry the following minute, but it was unsuccessful. India also earned a couple of PCs either side of halftime, but one was saved and the other was not properly trapped.
It would take an ugly effort from the Italian defense to double India’s advantage in the 41st minute. Lalremsiami seized on a fumbled back pass by the Italians to rush in and earn her team a penalty stroke after being hauled down by Caruso. Deepika, a young player, went up and shot to the left of the goalkeeper.
It would take a fantastic team effort of clean, fast passes four minutes later to triple the lead. Neha transferred it to Vaishnavi Phalke, who placed it to the right of an unmarked Salima. The Simdega wonder smashed it high into the left corner of the net, one of the day’s prettiest strikes. India’s cruise control mode was activated, Navneet — she began a fast move from the right and finished with a goal — and Udita only added to the joyride in the fourth quarter. Even Camila Machin’s last-second PC couldn’t ruin it.
Click here to check out the latest post on Instagram.
Also read: A Soccer Club Travels Almost 8,600 Miles To Lose 12-0 In The Coupe De France
image source: google
