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The Indian men’s hockey team pulled off a impressive 4-2 win over New Zealand in the first of the three match series at the Sports Authority of India on Thursday.
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The forwards won India their first Penalty Corner of the match in the opening minute. Rupinder Pal, making a comeback into the squad after the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, was sublime as he fired the ball low to beat New Zealand goalkeeper Richard Joyce in the second minute. In the 15th minute, India doubled their lead when Manpreet Singh’s cross was brilliantly picked up by forward Mandeep Singh, who smartly deflected it into goal.
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The visitors had an opportunity to equalise in the seventh minute but Indian goalkeeper Krishan Pathak was up to the task at the goalpost denying them the equaliser. The trailing team looked good in the second half as they displayed a tight defense and in the 26th minute, New Zealand finally made a breakthrough with Stephen Jenness scoring a perfect field goal that narrowed the lead to 1-2.
India begun the second half with two more goals and it seemed difficult for the opposition from their on but they striked back soon as Stephen Jenness converting his second goal of the match as his shot bounced off Indian goalkeeper Suraj Karkera’s pad into the back of the net. They followed the astounding fight right till the end but India triumphed and draw first blood in this three match series.
“Obviously, I’d love to play in front of a crowd. If people are cheering for us, it encourages us more,” said Rupinder.
Smith agreed: “It would be nice to have a stadium and a full house but I have no problems.”
The second match of the three match series will be played on Saturday.
Match summary: India 4 (Rupinder Pal Singh 2, 34, Mandeep Singh 15, Harmanpreet Singh 38) beat New Zealand 2 (Stephen Jenness 26, 55).
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