India beat Spain (file photo)
The Indian men’s hockey team made a sensational 5-4 win over Spain in a thrilling FIH Pro League match on Saturday with a stunning three-goal comeback.
Against the world no. 9 Spain, Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist India were stunned when the visitors took a 4-1 lead with hat-tricks from skipper Mark Miralles (20th, 23rd, 40th) and Pau Kunil (14th).
But the hosts made the most memorable comeback in the history of the game by scoring goals through Harmanpreet Singh (15th, 60th), Shilanand Lakra (41st), Shamsher Singh (43rd) and Varun Kumar (55th).
India have now registered four out of five wins in the FIH Pro League. On Sunday both the teams will face each other once again.
It was a flutter in the first 15 minutes of the first leg match, with both teams matching each other’s sticks for sticks.
Spain were the first to shy away when they got a penalty corner in the fifth minute but fired a wide.
India soon earned a penalty corner which was converted by Harmanpreet but the target was denied for dangerous play after Spain went for a referral.
In the 13th minute, India came close to breaking the deadlock when the ball from Mandeep Singh’s skipper Manpreet Singh was saved by the Spanish goalkeeper.
From the very next move, Spain secured their second penalty corner and a powerful flick from Pau Kunil proved to be very good for India’s mentor Suraj Karkare, as the visitors took a 1-0 lead.
India responded with only 18 seconds remaining on the clock from the first quarter when Harmanpreet found the back of the Spanish net with a fierce dragflick from the team’s second penalty corner.
However, the Indians were suppressed in the second quarter, forcing Spain to break their defense on a few occasions.
With such a move, Spain earned their third penalty corner, which was converted by skipper Mark Miralles, whose blow hit the feet of veteran Indian goalkeeper PR Sreejesh.
Three minutes later, the Spanish forwardline once again caught the Indian defense snarling as Mandeep Mor’s dangerous play inside his own circle resulted in a penalty stroke and Miralles stepped up to give his team a 3-1 lead.
Two minutes before half time, Shamsher Singh’s effort was brilliantly put away by Spanish goalkeeper Maripo Garin.
Spain put pressure on the Indian defense after a change of ends and secured two consecutive penalty corners in the 40th minute, the second of which was converted by Miralles with a fierce reverse hit from the top of the circle when the hosts blocked the opening effort. failed.
Surprised by the goal, the Indians returned to the match scoring two goals in a span of three minutes and reduced the gap to 3-4.
First Lakra scored from a rebound and then Shamsher found the net from a penalty corner when Harmanpreet’s wrong flick was saved by Garin.
Down a goal, the Indians raided the Spanish defense after raid and secured three more penalty corners in the process, the last of which was leveled by Varun in his 100th international appearance with a stunning blowout with five minutes remaining. Converted to draw. match.
The Indians kept up the pressure and earned a penalty stroke in just four seconds from the hooter, which was converted by Harmanpreet, much to the relief of the home team and its fans.
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