IMAGE: Skipper Manpreet
Singh celebrates with his teammates. Photograph: Hockey India/Twitter
Harmanpreet Singh scored a brace and veteran goalkeeper P R Sreejesh
stood like a wall in the closing minutes as the Indian men's hockey team
overcame a late surge from New Zealand to eke out a close 3-2 win in their
opening encounter at the Tokyo Olympic Games on Saturday.
Harmanpreet (26th and 33rd minutes) scored a double for India, while
Rupinder Pal Singh (10th) was the other goal-getter for the eight-time
champions, currently ranked fourth in the world, in the Pool A match at the Oi
hockey stadium in Tokyo.
For the eighth-ranked New Zealand, Kane Russell scored from a penalty
corner in the sixth minute before Stephen Jenness (43rd minute) reduced the
margin later in the match.
The Indians were shocked in the sixth minute when Russell
found the top right corner of the Indian goal with a fierce flick past
Sreejesh.
Even though he didn't score, striker Mandeep Singh was a live-wire for
India upfront and earned a penalty corner for his side, which resulted in a
penalty stroke from which Rupinder drew parity in the 10th minute.
New Zealand gave the Indian defence a run for their money, securing four
consecutive penalty corners but wasted all.
IMAGE: PR Sreejesh shines under the bar. Photograph: Hockey
India/Twitter
From a counter-attack, Gurjant came close to handing India the lead but
his effort was saved by New Zealand goalkeeper Leon Hayward.
Four minutes into the second quarter, Hayward again came to the scene
when he kept away India skipper Manpreet Singh's lob from a one-on-one
situation.
But six minutes later, Harmanpreet gave India a 2-1 lead at half-time.
Three minutes after the change of ends, Harmanpreet was again in the
thick of things when he converted his second penalty corner of the day with a
precision strike.
India secured another penalty corner minutes later but this time
Harmanpreet's effort was saved by the Kiwi defence.
But the match came to life when Jenness scored with a lovely finish past
Sreejesh in the near post in the 43rd minute.
Three minutes from full time, Lalit Upadhayay's strike from top of the
circle was blocked brilliantly by Hayward to keep New Zealand in the hunt.
It was all New Zealand in the final few minutes of the
game as they pressed hard for the equaliser and in the process earned three
penalty corners in quick succession but Sreejesh came to India's rescue making
some brilliant saves to keep the opponents at bay.
With 24 seconds to go, New Zealand secured another penalty corner but
once again the experienced Sreejesh denied the them and helped India secure
full points.
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