India surprises Olympic champions for second win in Champions Trophy
Continuing from where it left against Pakistan yesterday, a rejuvenated India shocked Olympic champions Argentina 2-1 for its second successive win in the farewell edition of Champions Trophy at Breda in the Netherlands on Sunday.
The win keeps India at the top of the table with maximum six points.
India was the only team that had beaten Argentina in the pool matches in Rio which the South Americans later went on to win its first ever Olympic gold.
It was a special gift for experienced Sardar Singh, who was playing his 300th international. And a win over Olympic champions could not have been a better gift for the Haryana Deputy Superintendent of Police. The team management had given Sardar captaincy of the team for this match.
Young Harmanpreet Singh, who is shaping very well as a penalty corner specialist, scored India's first goal from the first penalty corner. His neat flick went through the legs of Argentina goalkeeper. The goal came in the 17th minute after the two teams after some exciting exchanges had a barren first quarter.
On the other hand, Argentina has one of the top penalty corner striker in Gonzalo Peillat. It was he who scored from the fourth penalty corner earned by his team. India deserves a pat on its back for defending four of five penalty corners earned by South Americans.
After Harmanpreet gave India lead in the second quarter, it was Mandeep who scored from a good pass from young Dilpreet Singh in the 28th minute. A minute later, Argentina reduced margin through penalty corner goal by Gonzalo Peillat.
Sreejesh deserves credit for some excellent saves, including at least one from Gonzalo Pellet and also in the actual run of play.
India could have added another goal in the closing minutes but SV Sunil playing his 236th international was off target with an empty goal before him.
India never had such a great start in any of the previous editions of Champions Trophy. India's best finish in this tournament has been a silver that it won in Bhubaneshwar in 2016.
