India lost to Spain 3-2 in their second game of the two-match tour here in Madrid on Thursday night.
The high-scoring encounter started off cagily as both teams started off the blocks slowly, defending deep and not looking for adventurous forays into the others half. Spain were the ones who came closest in the first quarter, with a PC which was defended by India to ensure they went into the first break tied in a stalemate.
Five minutes into the second period Spain provided the breakthrough, Josep Romeu converting their second PC to take the lead. The two teams went into the break separated by that single strike.
India came out stronger in the second half and Manpreet Singh soon had them back in the game with a smart field goal in the 38th minute. Spain took the lead again within four minutes with another PC, this time converted by Pau Quemada. The two teams went into the final break with Spain leading 2-1.
In the final quarter, with the clock ticking down, India started pushing forward in numbers to get the equalizer as Spain absorbed the pressure waiting for the counter. The hosts had their third via one finished by Salvador Piera in the 53rd minute. Ramandeep scored India’s second in the 57th minute, sparking a mini comeback but Spain held on to take the victory.
India colts win 7-1
Marlow (England): India’s junior men’s hockey team maintained their unbeaten run on the tour of England by thrashing the hosts 7-1 at the Bisham Abbey Sports Centre here.
For India, Ajay Yadav (27th, 43rd minutes) and Varun Kumar (32nd, 35th) scored two goals apiece yesterday, while Manpreet (15th), Gurjant Singh (38th) and Simranjeet Singh (40th) found the back of the net once each.
England’s lone strike came from the stick of Ed Holer.
India’s relentless pressure resulted in the breakthrough when Manpreet found the net in the 15th minute.
England hit back almost immediately through a penalty corner which was converted by Holer to level the scores.
But that was all England could manage as India took the lead in the second quarter when Gurjant’s cross found Ajay inside the circle and he made no mistake to give India the lead in the 27th minute.
Soon after Varun Kumar increased India’s tally, scoring from a penalty corner in the 32nd minute. He doubled his tally just before half time by converting another set piece to ensure India went into the break leading 4-1.
India kept up their high tempo after the cross over and scored early via Gurjant before Simranjeet’s brilliant individual goal gave the visitors a 6-1 lead.
India then earned two quick penalty corners and Ajay scored his second off an indirect hit for a 7-1 lead.