Simranjeet Singh opened the scoring for India before Rupinder Pal Singh scored a brace to earn a 3-0 win against Spain in the Pool A match.
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India men’s hockey team thrash Spain 3-0 at the Oi hockey stadium in their third Pool A match of Tokyo Olympics 2020. After the humiliating loss to Australia in their second match of the campaign the Men in Blue undoubtedly needed an inspiring performance to lift themselves up. Thankfully, they did just that. Simranjeet Singh opened the scoring in the 14th minute before Rupinder Pal singh extended the lead courtesy of a penalty stroke. Meanwhile Rupinder added his second of the day from a penalty corner in the last quarter to complete the drubbing. Goalkeeper Sreejesh made some fine saves to keep a clean sheet. (Tokyo Olympics coverage)
Indian team started the game brightly and scored two goals in the first quarter. Simranjeet opened the scoring from an open play. A brilliant long pass from Dilpreet Singh found its way to an unmarked Simranjeet inside the striking zone. The 24-year-old who was playing his first Olympic match calmly slotted the ball past Spain goalkeeper Francisco Cortes Juncosa to take the lead for India.
A minute after the opening goal the Men in Blue earned three consecutive penalty corners. This led to a penalty stroke. Harmanpreet Singh’s ferocious drag flick was deflected onto the body of a Spanish defender by the goalkeeper. Rupinder stepped up and scored India’s second goal from the penalty spot with terrific precision.
In response, the Spanish team pushed up in the second quarter and earned an early penalty corner. India goalkeeper PR Sreejesh blocked it comfortably.
Five minutes into the third quarter Spanish captain Miguel Delas was shown a yellow card and had to sit out for five minutes because more than 11 players were present on the field for Spain. But India couldn’t take advantage of the extra man. Meanwhile towards the end of the third quarter the ball went inside the Indian goal but the hooter had already gone off. However Spain earned a penalty corner as the ball had touched the Indian defender’s foot during buildup. But the 2008 Beijing Olympics silver medalist couldn’t capitalise on it.
India started the final quarter with just two forwards, coach Graham Reid’s tactic was clearly to defend and hit the opponent on the counter. And the tactics was spot on as India earned its fourth penalty corner of the night. Rupinder stepped up and drag flicked powerfully past Francisco Juncosa to make it 3-0 for India. It was the 30-year-old’s second goal of the match and third goal in Tokyo. In response Spain won back-to-back penalty corner’s. But Sreejesh made a routine save to deny Spain their opening goal.
It was a complete performance from the Indian team as they scored three different types of goal and were equally impressive at the back. Veteran goalkeeper Sreejesh made a number of fine saves to see off the Spanish attack and earn three points. Meanwhile it was India’s second win of their Tokyo 2020 campaign and they will face Argentina in the next match on July 29.
