SARDAR BRILLIANCE INSPIRES AN INDIA WIN
India
begin their Hockey World League campaign with a thrilling 3-2 win over
France. France put up a fantastic fight, but skipper Sardar Singh's
brilliance in the midfield led to the winning goal. INDIA 3-2 FRANCE,
the final score.
11:00 PM
Ramandeep makes it 3-2
Sardar
Singh to the forefront, shimies his way past the two french defenders
and runs with the ball to leave Ramandeep with a loose one inside the D,
and he doesnt miss. Goalie Zylbermann runs out but the ball hits the
net. India lead 3-2 with less than two minutes of the game left
10:58 PM
Another
attack by India and Sardar Singh is stranded at the edge of the box. He
has to push the ball back. The final pass does'nt come and that has
been the story of the match for India so far.
10:56 PM
Jasjeet misses the PC
Jasjeet
Singh, India's penalty corner specialist, is on the field but he fails
to to net the ball pushed in by Sardar Singh. A vital chane missed
10:55 PM
Ramandeep earns a PC
Good work by Ramandeep to take the ball inside the D and it is a vital PC for India in the dying minutes of the game.
10:51 PM
Less than 10 minutes remain
Less
than 10 minutes remain and India players are getting more and more
frustrated as French take control once again. The 18th ranked French
team will be happy with a draw against the 9th-ranked India.
10:50 PM
Lalit Kumar's long run inside France's D is cut short but take a long corner. France however sniff out the attack early.
10:46 PM
The
fourth quarter is underway and France seem to have the momentum.
Manpreet run is cut short by Sanches and France are on the attack one
again, but the chance goes begging.
10:43 PM
France
show urgency after the second goal despite their skipper Tom Genestat
sitting out after colliding with Gurmail. The third Q belonged to France
and they dominated the proceesing with their pace.
10:41 PM
France equalise
France
are penetrating more and more and Sreejesh finally lets one past him.
Second goal by Simon Martin. A hard shot to the near post after Genestat
gets the ball inside the D. France equalise.
10:35 PM
Fantastic save by Sreejesh
Sreejesh
steps up when it mattered the most. France had an open goal but Simon
Martin flicks one towards the goal and a flying Sreejesh keep the ball
away. Super save by Sreejesh
10:30 PM
Penalty corner for France
Walmiki
pushes the ball in to his own players' foot and France have their first
PC off the match. Masson fires it in and Charlit hits it wide. No
damage done.
10:27 PM
Keep it trending
10:25 PM
India on the attack
Dharamvir once again with a good pass in to the French D but a diving Devender Walmiki cannot reach it
10:24 PM
Third Q underway
France on the charge early on and India defend well to force France out of their box.
10:21 PMAs we wait for the third quarter to start, good time hear in to what former India captain Zafar Iqbal has to say. Listen in:
10:13 PM
And Walmiki helps India take the lead
One
minute after Manpreet equaliser , Devender Walmiki finds the net with a
Dharamvir pass. Indian skipper Sardar Singh triggered the
counter-attack and India have the lead at half-time
10:13 PM
Manpreet strike level the score
The second penalty corner is converted by Manpreet hitting the ball low to the goalie's right.
10:11 PM
First Penalty corner for India
Manpreet
Singh fires the ball inside the box to hit the French's foot. Dharamvir
pushes in and Manpreet hits it, French goalie Zylbermann fends it away
10:06 PM
Counter attack by France
Fantastic
couter-attack by Simon Martin Brisac as he dodges three Indian
defenders and puts the ball in the D, goalkeeper Sreejesh has to move
out and they kicks the ball away to safety
10:00 PM
Chance for Ramandeep
Akashdeep
puts a good ball in to the D and Ramandeep has a clear shot at the
goal, but once again good defending by France and the defection take the
ball away from the goal.
09:58 PM
Second Q underway
And
India are off the blocks once again and Ramandeep Singh showing some
good skills and India have slowed the pace down and are building
momentum steadily
09:54 PM
Strong
attack by India's Sardar Singh in the dying minutes of the game, but
French goalkeeper puts in a desperate dive to deny the the Indian
skipper and hooter goes of signalling the end of first quarter. INDIA 0 -
1 FRANCE
09:52 PM
India
are losing the ball quickly in the midfield, and France are really
showing they are up for the challenge. The inital pace has been set by
France.
09:43 PM
Olivier Sanchez scores in the 3rd minute
After
India started the proceeding, France took possession and their first
attack of the match finds the net.Poor defending by India as Sanchez
runs in unmarked in to the D and the long pass from the midfleid is well
connected by the forward. France score in the 3rd minute.
09:37 PM
And we are off
Players
from both teams India and France walk out to the middle and at the
stadium echoes with the national anthems of India and France.
Sardar Singh leads the the Indian contingent while the French team is
led by Tom Genestet. Both teams are playing with the 4-3-3 formation.