Olympic bronze medalist India put up a poor performance to lose 2-5 against lower-ranked France in the second match of the FIH Hockey Pro League two-leg tie here on Saturday.
India started the match as clear favorites after registering 5-0 wins against France and 10-2 against South Africa in the FIH Pro League so far.
But France had other plans on Saturday and got the better of their arch-rivals in every aspect of the game.
The Indians were slow to come out of the block but as the match progressed, their confidence grew.
While France enjoyed the opening exchange, India controlled the proceedings after that but both the teams failed to create any real goalscoring chances.
A minute into the second quarter, India secured their first penalty corner of the match, but poor trapping did not allow Harmanpreet Singh to score.
France caught the Indian defense guard in the very next move and earned a penalty stroke which was converted beautifully by Victor Charlotte.
Stunned by the French, India secured their second penalty corner in the 21st minute but French goalkeeper Arthur Thiefrey made a brilliant save to deny young Jugraj Singh.
But in the very next minute, India leveled when Jarmanpreet Singh’s cross from the right, after a deflection from Stanislas Branicki’s stick, went into the French goal.
The French players looked more purposeful after the change in the end and scored one penalty corner after another in the 32nd minute but failed to capitalize on those opportunities.
France continued their attacking game and restored their lead in the 35th minute through Victor Lockwood, whose powerful shot from the left corner went through the legs of veteran goalkeeper PR Sreejesh into the Indian net.
Once again down a goal, the Indians attacked and kept the pressure on the French defense but failed to break it.
India had their chances and secured five penalty corners in the third quarter, including three in a row in the 44th minute, but missed execution.
France extended their lead in the 48th minute with a variation strike from Charles Masson from their third penalty corner.
India secured two more penalty corners but it was difficult for players like Harmanpreet, Jugraj and Varun Kumar to cross the French defence, which was brilliantly led by goalkeeper Thifree.
India pulled one back in the 57th minute via a penalty stroke conversion by Harmanpreet Singh.
Buoyed by the goal, the Indians mounted the pressure and secured two more penalty corners but France defended the numbers.
To further increase India’s crisis, World No. 13 France scored two more goals in the final two minutes of the game – first via a penalty corner conversion by Charlotte and then via a field strike by Timothée Clément.
India’s poor performance can be gauged from the fact that they earned 10 penalty corners but failed to find the back of the net.
India will take on hosts South Africa in the second FIH Pro League match between the two sides here on Sunday.
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