India’s frustrating FIH Women’s Pro League campaign continued with the Salima Tete-led side suffering its third successive loss, a 1-4 defeat to world No. 2 side Argentina in London on Tuesday.
Deepika was the lone goal-scorer for India, converting a penalty corner in the 30th minute, while for Argentina Agustina Gorzelany struck a hat-trick (40’, 54’ & 59’). Victoria Falasco (29’) scored the opening goal for the winners.
India began with intent and was a dominant force in the first quarter before it curiously lost momentum midway through the second quarter to be completely overwhelmed by its higher-ranked opponent.
India was off to a great start with the team making full-hearted attempts to score the opener.
In fact, Salima came within sniffing distance of scoring a goal midway through the first quarter when she made a dash from the right but made a mess of things when she was just a few yards from the goalmouth and completely unguarded.
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A move initiated by Naveent Kaur from the Indian half in the 18th minute saw her relay the ball to Lalremsiami, who gave a pass to Bajeet Kaur, but the forward wasted that precious milli-second to take a touch as another big opportunity went abegging.
It seemed India was holding its own against the No. 2 ranked team in the world after successive defeats against Australia. But curiously, coach Harendra Singh’s side went off the boil midway through the second quarter, as its rival hit back with full force.
Sensing that India was not pushing that hard in the second quarter, Argentina went for an all-out attack and scored the game’s opening goal when Victoria Falasco found an opening on the left and used the short swing to perfection to slot home the opening goal in the 29th minute.
However, India hit back with just one second remaining in the second quarter when Deepika converted a penalty corner following a superb injection to bring up the equaliser.
The third quarter saw India dominate the first few minutes before surprisingly handing over the initiative to Argentina, whose link play saw it once again take control.
A penalty stroke in the 40th minute, which was converted by Agustina, gave the winner a 2-1 lead. Argentina soon earned back-to-back penalty corners — its 3rd and 4th — in the 48th minute but the Indian defenders were up to the task.
However, contrary to coach Singh’s assertion at half-time that it would be an even contest, things continued to go downhill for his side as Agustina piled more misery with two goals in the last quarter.
India will play its second match against Argentina on Wednesday.
