The Indian women’s hockey team suffered their second consecutive defeat on the Argentina tour, falling 2-3 to the hosts’ B-side in a thrilling clash here.
Salima Tete (6th) and Gurjit Kaur (42nd) scored for India, while Sol Pagela (25th), Constanza Cerundolo (38th), and Agustina Gorzelany (39th) recorded their names on the premises score sheet.
In the first quarter, it was India who got off to a good start, winning a penalty corner in the first minute. An intentional foul by Argentina while defending the PC caused the visiting team to be sanctioned with a penalty.
Unfortunately for India, the goal was saved. Without letting this missed opportunity slow the pace, the tourists slammed through the Tete form in the 6th minute to take the lead.
“We had a very good start to the game and although we couldn’t score on the penalty, we were able to convert after a good interception in minute 6. In the first quarter, we were in control and we controlled Argentina, but in the second quarter, they improved their game, ”said head coach Sjoerd Marijne.
A slump in India’s defense in the second quarter was well-capitalized on by the experienced home team. Pagela’s goal in the 25th minute tied the score at 1-1. But the game turned in their favor when India gave away two goals in the 38th and 39th minutes.
“I think these two goals could have been stopped. We had restricted their circle innings to just 5 this quarter, but we allowed them to convert twice in those five attempts, “said Marijne.
“Although Gurjit scored in the following minutes to cut the lead by one goal, we lost some good scoring opportunities from then on. I feel like we were a bit rushed in our quest to convert. We must do much better to beat Argentina in the next matches, “he added.
India has put their main group to the test in the last four matches, where they have drawn two draws (2-2, 1-1) and suffered two narrow defeats (1-2 and 2-3) on the current tour.
In their next matches this week, the team led by Rani will face the formidable Argentine squad number 2 in the world.
“In the next four games, we will deploy our best team to see what we can create against the No. 2 teams in the world. There have been good learnings from these four games, and I want to see how our main team performs against them, ”he said.
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