Dazzling India get first win, beat NZ at Azlan Shah Cup
India came up with extraordinary skills to excel against New Zealand as they won 3-0 in their second match at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup tournament here on Sunday.
It was India’s 2016 Junior World Cup winners Mandeep Singh (23’) and Harmanpreet Singh (27’ and 47’), who scored while the defence led by Rupinder Pal Singh and Surender Kumar ensured they stayed ahead to win the match and enthrall the Indian supporters here.
Though the first quarter ended in a stalemate, New Zealand had pushed India on the backfoot right at the start as they attacked with speed and precision.
The Black Sticks kept the Indian goalkeeper PR Sreejesh busy through the first 15 minutes forcing him to save as many as three goals.
New Zealand were the first to earn a PC in the sixth minute when their attacker found Pardeep Mor’s foot in the circle. But Sreejesh was impressive when he denied dragger Sam Lane’s wellexecuted flick.
India’s SV Sunil came close to scoring in the 12th minute when he was assisted by Harmanpreet Singh but he couldn’t get the right connection with his shot lacking power. The second quarter, however, belonged to India as they took an impressive 2-0 lead.
They came out of the first break with an improvised game, made clever forays with innovative formations into the striking circle and found success in the 23rd minute when Junior World Cup winner Sumit and Chinglensana Kangujam set-up the goal for forward Mandeep Singh who deflected the ball beating Richard Joyce into the post giving India a much-needed 1-0 lead.
Later, in the 27th minute India forward Akashdeep Singh found defender Alex Shaw’s foot when he was dribbling into the circle. The chance was capitalised by young dragflicker Harmanpreet Singh who was impeccable with a brilliantly struck flick that beat New Zealand keeper Richard like a bolt.
A clever-thinking Sardar Singh set up another PC for India when he found captain Manpreet Singh at the circle who found the New Zealand defender’s feet but India couldn’t score from the opportunity.