Breaking News: Gold Coast 2018: India goes down fighting to New Zealand in semis
True to the adage that luck favours brave, New Zealand overcame a stiff resistance to beat India 3-2 in the first semi-final of men's section in hockey competition of XXi Commonwealth Games at Gold Coast on Friday.New Zealand led 2-1 at the breather.
It was a mixed day for India as its sports persons, including wrestlers, paddlers, shuttlers, shooters and athletes were not consistent with their performances on the ninth day of competitions.
Yesterday, women';s hockey team went down fighting to the hosts Australia by a solitary goal and today it was the turn of men's team to go down to less fancied New Zealand 2-3 after conceding two early goals.
In the absence of drag flicker and defender Rupinderpal Singh, who had a hamsting in the game against England day before yesterday, India had problems on hands both in defence and penalty corner conversions. Of nine penalty corners, India got two goals, both by Harmanpreet Singh, one by direct conversion and other through penalty stroke that followed a rebound.
Other than that Indian scoring limitations came to fore as it not only missed several good scoring chances but also lacked the killers instinct in the striking circle.
On the other hand, New Zealand made full use of opportunities coming its way, including capitalisation on defence lapses of India.
Hugo Inglish (seventh minute) and Stephen Jenness (13th minute) gave two major shocks to India even before it had settled down. It was only in the dying seconds of first half that harmanpreet converted a penalty corner to reduce the margin.
After changing over when India pressed hard for equaliser, it was New Zealand that scored again, this time Marcus Child. Four minutes from the final whistle India withdrew goalkeeper but the move, unlike game against England, did not work today. India did press hard for the equalizer but luck eluded hard working Indian team.
India's dream of making the third successive final this went unfulfilled.
