India - Spain 5:3 (1:1, 1:1) after PSC

Wednesday, 08.08.2007 - 13:00 in Mönchengladbach

First Penalty Stroke Competition

The first match of the day found two of Monday's winning teams pitted against each other. India played more effectively in the first phase, creating several chances which, however, were rendered harmless by the Spanish goalkeeper Mata. In the 7th minute Chandi, shooting from an acute angle, hit the outer net. India maintained the upper hand, earning themselves their first short corner in the ninth minute. Deewakar Ram, who had displayed his talent the day before, was again successsful and hit the ball into the lower left side of the goal.

Zwei 10er unter sich: Gurvinder Chandi (IND) und Ignasi Guerrero (ESP) © hockeyfocus.de
 

This goal motivated the Spanish team to start playing more aggressively, and they achieved their own first short corner in the 13th minute. The following flick hit the body of the Indian keeper Tirkey, giving Spain a penalty stroke. Number 11 Roger Padros accepted the challenge and shot the ball waist-high into the Indian goal: India 1 : Spain 1. Spain dominated the play in the next phase of the game and were awarded two further short corners which they were not able to convert. In the 26th minute the Spaniards had another great chance to take the lead. After a combination involving several players Guerrero shot a tomahawk which sailed just over the post. The first half ended with the score still tied at 1:1.

No muddle through for Marc Salles (ESP) © hockeyfocus.de
 

India made another good start in the second half, venturing even sooner out of their half field coverage, again earning themselves some good chances. After a flank from left Jagwant Singh deflected the ball towards the goal, but the Spanish keeper cleared it for a long corner. The Indians' best chance came in the 45th minute, but Mujtaba slipped and missed a flank from the right side. After that, the game lost some of its pace and most of the action took place between the 25-yard lines. Both teams made an increasing number of poor passes. The only good scene came when Salles volleyed a ball which had bounced off the Spanish keeper, but his shot missed the goal.

By saving two penalty shots India's Goalkeeper Shreejesh won the Match © hockeyfocus.de
 

As the regulation time came to an end with the score unchanged at 1:1, the players lined up for a penalty stroke competition. The Indian goalie held the shot of the first Spanish player Garcia, after which Ram, R.Singh and Topno converted their chances for India as did Dabanch and Salles for Spain. The decisive scene came as Padros' attempt was parried by the Indian keeper and Kullu ended the shoot-out with a shot to the lower left side of the Spanish goal. The final score of 5 : 3 means that India receives two points to Spain's one.

The Spanish trainer Indurain expressed himself satisfied with the first half of the match, less so with second. In spite of his disappontment at the outcome of the penalty shootout, he stressed the value of the experience which his young team is gaining in this international tournament. His goal now is to win the next match on Friday, a victory which would take the team into the semi-finals.

The Indian trainer Bensal was also happer with his team's performance in the first half than in the second. While accepting that Friday's match against the home team Germany will be difficult, he feels that if the players continue to play as well as they have so far, they will have a good chance of winning. He saw no need to make any changes in his starting line-up.

Torschützen/Scorers:
09.'   1:0   Ram, D
14.'   1:1   Padros, R

Schiedsrichter/Umpires:
Shaw, R (ENG)
Wijsmuller, R (NED)

« Home

» Reportsheet (pdf)
» Reportsheet PS (pdf)

» Liveticker

» No Video

» Pictures of the match