While the game started with a nervous start from the Thailand
defence, the Indian eves were constant in attacking from both the flanks
throughout the game. The Indian team was seen high in their fighting spirits
and was awarded with three penalty corners in the early minutes of the game but
failed to convert any of them. With neither of the teams able to open their
score card, the goal tally stood nil at the end of first quarter.
In the second quarter, the Indian eves were looking to
pierce the defence of Thailand . Amandeep
Kaur finally managed to break the defence of the opponents and pierced in the
ball from the right flank to score the opening goal of the match for India in the 25thminute
through a field effort. Thailand
team's goalie Jesdaporn Tongsun showed superb agility and excellent reflexes
and placed herself perfectly at the goal mouth disallowing the Indian team to
score from penalty corners. Unable to open their score card, Thailand made a dry run and the scores stood 1-0
in favour of India
by the end of the second quarter.
After a much entertaining first half, the high- voltage game
in the third quarter went full throttle where the hosts continued to build
pressure on Thailand .
It was through the stick of Jaspreet Kaur who slightly lifted the ball from the
ground and struck goal post in the 38th minute with the strength of a
penalty corner conversion.
Within two minutes, the goal post struck the third
time when Rani Rani surged ahead and notched a field goal in the 40th minute
advancing the lead to 3-0. In the dying minutes of the quarter, India scored
through Vandana Katariya who added another goal to her tally in the 45th minute
through a field effort. Failing to gather the ball and hitting the target, Thailand failed to score any goals leaving a
score of 4-0 in favor of India
on the board.
Continuing with the same momentum, India picked up
the pace in the last stages of the match but was denied a number of goals from
penalty corner opportunities. On the other hand, keeping the score line out of
the mind, Thailand
focused on restricting the opponents to score further goals. This was short-
lived as the last minute of the game yielded two goals in favour of India
coming each from penalty corner and a field effort which were very well
responded by Rani Rani and Jaspreet Kaur in the 60th minute respectively.
With no goals scored in favour of Thailand ,
the match ended with India
defeating Thailand
6-0.
Excited on winning the match today, Hockey India ’s High
Performance Director Roelant Oltmans said, “It was a good and one sided
match. We scored brilliantly and the team coordination was up to the mark. With
this victory the confidence level is high. For me the performance was more than
satisfactory and we are now gearing up for the next level of competition.”
Speaking post the match today, Thailand Coach, Young Wook Bae
said, “It was a good game though we could not defend well. We will ensure
we come back strong in the next match. We have to work on our defence and
conversions."
HI Press release
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