4-nation hockey:India beats New Zealand 3-1 to remain in hunt for Sunday's final
4-nation hockey:India beats New Zealand 3-1 to remain in hunt for Sunday's final: Putting behind the 0-2 reverse at hands of Belgium, India today pulled off a splendid 3-1 win over the hosts New Zealand to stay in hunt for a berth in Sunday's final in the four-nation hockey tournament at Mount Maunganui in New Zealand on Saturday.
This is India's second win in three games and first defeat for New Zealand in three games.
Who will play the Sunday's final will be decided after the last round robin league game between Belgium and Japan.
New Zealand had beaten Belgium 5-4 earlier in the tournament.
Taking their last game with a win on their mind, Indian players started on an aggressive note taking lead through Harmanpreet Singh. The lead was further consolidated with a brilliant goal by young Dilpreet Singh, who is emerging as one of the top scorers of the tournament. He had two goals to his credit in the opener against Japan.
New Zealand, however, pulled one back when they made use of the third and last penalty corner midway in the the third quarter. But the joy of the Black Sticks was short-lived as Mandeep Scored an opportunist goal to put India 3-1 ahead.
New Zealand did take its goalkeeper out in last six minutes in a desperate effort to reduce the margin but did to succeed. Indians played to a strategy and defended their citadel well.
-PTC News
