India down Olympic champs Argentina in shootout in FIH Pro League hockey

Drag-flick expert Harmanpreet Singh was the star for the Indian hockey team as it beat Olympic champions Argentina 3-2 in a shoot-out in the FIH Pro League tie at the CeNARD sports complex in Buenos Aires on Saturday.

The two teams finished the match 2-2 at the end of regulation time. Harmanpreet gave India the lead from a well-worked short corner in the 21st minute but Argentina hit back with goals from Martin Ferreiro (28th, 30th minutes) just ahead of half-time.

Harmanpreet Singh then equalised for India with just six seconds left on the clock with another penalty corner to push the match into a shoot-out.

Harmanpreet, however, came up short against the Argentine goalkeeper Juan Vivaldi in the shoot-out. But goals from Lalit Upadhya, Rupinderpal Singh and Dilpreet Singh coupled with a few fine saves from Indian goalkeeper PR Sreejesh helped India earn the bonus point from the match.

“We were fighting until the last minute, and that is why we got a result here,” said Harmanpreet, who was named Player of the Match.

India are now fifth in the FIH Pro League standings ahead of Argentina with 12 points from seven matches. Argentina have 11 points from 11 games.

Fifteen goals were scored by the two teams in the two practice matches in the lead up to Saturday’s FIH Pro League match. It started well for India as they played a high press game, trying to win the ball closer to the Argentine striking circle.

Striker Mandeep Singh was the first to draw attention as he intercepted an attempted overhead pass just outside Argentina’s penalty area and drove ahead before squaring it off for an on rushing Hardik Singh. Hardik, however, missed his shot.

Argentina soon found their rhythm and made some incisive forays into the Indian striking circle. But the Indian defence was up to the task. 

While Matias Rey and Lucas Vila ran the show for the hosts, skipper Pedro Ibarra -- who had to get his forehead wrapped after sustaining an injury -- manned the defence with purpose.

India’s attacking intent paid dividends in the second quarter as Mandeep Singh forced an Argentine defender into lifting the ball dangerously inside his striking circle to hand the visitors the first short corner of the match. 

Stepping up to the task, Harmanpreet Singh unleashed a fierce hit to the right of Vivaldi to give India the lead. Argentina, however, took advantage of some clumsy defending for India.

Losing the ball in the midfield, the Indian hockey team failed to track its markers. Thus, an unmarked Ferreiro executed a quality tomahawk that left PR Sreejesh helpless.

The 23-year-old Argentine then doubled the advantage as he squeezed in a shot between the goalkeeper and his near post after India had denied the Olympic champions from a short corner.

The second half was a cagey affair with both sides struggling to find clear openings at goal. With under a minute to go for the final hooter, Indian hockey captain Manpreet Singh raced through the middle of the park, dodging defenders at will before finding an Argentine foot inside the striking circle.

Harmanpreet Singh was on the money yet again to tie the scores with another penalty corner conversion and push the match into a shoot-out.

India’s next FIH Pro League match against Argentina is on Sunday (Monday in India).