Torneo del Centenario 2023 hockey: India draw with England, fail to reach final

The Indian men’s hockey team played out a 1-1 draw against England in its final league match of the Torneo del Centenario 2023 in Terrassa, Spain, on Friday.

For India, Harmanpreet Singh (29’) scored the solitary goal while Sam Ward (5’) netted early for England.

The draw means India are now out of contention for the final of the four-nation hockey tournament. India will now play in the third-place playoff match on Sunday.

This was India’s third match in the 100th Anniversary Spanish Hockey Federation International Tournament 2023. They lost 2-1 to Spain in the opening match on Tuesday, before eking out a 1-1 draw against the Netherlands on Wednesday.

India are placed fourth with two points from three matches while England top the table with five points from three games. Spain and the Dutch team, who face off later today, have three and two points, respectively.

India, fourth in the men’s hockey rankings, got off the blocks slowly while England were on the offensive immediately and scored the opening goal five minutes into the match. Sam Ward deflected a pass from James Oates into the net from a close range to make it 1-0.

Minutes later, Harmanpreet Singh converted a penalty corner for what seemed like an Indian equaliser but the referee disallowed the goal. The first quarter ended with England leading 1-0. 

The Indian hockey team began showing more adventure in the second quarter and created several chances but the forwards failed to convert them.

India finally found the equaliser in the dying minutes of the first half. Captain Harmanpreet Singh converted a penalty corner to make it 1-1 for India as the first half finished with the score tied 1-1.

The third quarter saw both India and England battle for possession. India earned multiple penalty corners but the Harmanpreet Singh-led team failed to make the most of them. The penultimate quarter did not see any goals as the score stayed level at 1-1.

In the final 15 minutes, India and England traded multiple penalty corners but neither team could find the back of the net. With seconds left on the clock, India had a golden opportunity to put the game to bed via a penalty corner. However, British goalkeeper James Mazarelo came up with a stunning save to deny India the winner.

The draw sealed England’s berth in Sunday’s final for the 100th Anniversary Spanish Hockey Federation International Tournament. 

The Indian hockey team, meanwhile, will play either Netherlands or Spain in the third-fourth playoff on the same day.