Muscat, Feb 1
Drag-flicker Gurjit Kaur starred with crucial strikes as India eked out a tough 2-1 victory against a gritty China in their second match of the FIH ProLeague (Women) at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex, here on Tuesday.
Gurjit’s third and 49th minute goals made the difference for India in a match where they were tested by a much-improved Chinese side, who were thumped 7-1 on Monday.
INDIA DOMINATE EARLY
India were looking to replicate the same performance as Monday and the Asia Cup bronze medallists were on the go rightaway.
Gurjit Kaur converted the third minute penalty corner with a supreme drag flick that beat Chinese goalkeeper Wu Surong as India drew first blood.
India were on the offensive mode just as they were in the first match. The likes of Gurjit, Deep Grace Ekka, Monika were regularly making circle penetrations to keep the Chinese defence on their toes.
China were struggling to gain possession and even when they did, would lose the ball quickly.
As the first quarter drew to a close, India were brimming with confidence riding on a 1-0 lead.
In the second quarter, Indian forwards kept pressing at the Chinese defence and searched for goals.
Ishika Chaudhary and Neha were making forays into the Chinese circle from the left flank and looked to create a flutter.
The Chinese defence was holding up well and containing the marauding Indian forwardline.
However, India were struggling to break the shackles and find more goals as they were expected to go about.
The Chinese were happy to keep the Indians in check and play the denial job perfectly.
After the two quarters, India had made 12 circle penetrations as compared to China’s four. The world’s ninth-ranked women’s hockey team also had 54 per cent ball possession in comparison to China’s 48 per cent.
As the third quarter began, India were looking to make amends for the lack of more goals.
The Chinese wanted to keep the pressure up and hopefully surprise the Indians with a goal or two.
Neha and Lalremsiami came close to create an opportunity for India but the packed Chinese backline thwarted their designs.
Much against the run of play, China stunned India with the equaliser through Wang Shumin in the 40th minute.
It was game on and India were really under the pump after a gritty Chinese counter-attack.
India failed to convert two penalty corners that they received towards the end of the third quarter.
At 1-1 at the end of the third quarter, the match was tantalisingly set up for the final quarter.
India did not have the most desirable start to the final quarter as they missed out on a penalty corner conversion in the 47th minute.
However, Gurjit Kaur made no mistake in a couple of minutes as she slammed a sublime low drag flick past Chinese custodian Surong to give India a 2-1 lead.
China were making last ditch attempts to regain foothold in the match that was drifting away from them.
India, on the other hand, were absolutely going for the kill to finish the game off in style.
Although, India squandered two penalty corners, the game was very much in their grasp as the Chinese were tiring in the closing minutes.
India kept China at bay to end 2-1 victors.
India’s Monika was adjudged the player-of-the-match and expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance.
“We just played in the same rhythm as the previous match and that helped us in winning this game. It was a team effort,’’ she added.
