Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup: England drop a point to debutant China
It was experience and grit that shared honors in the pool B game between England and China in the Odisha Hockey Women’s World Cup at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Friday. The 2-2 draw, the first of the tournament, not only came as a disappointment for England but also warmed the cockles of hearts of the Chinese playing their first World Cup. Surprising score reflects the closeness of the game in which China was both first and last to score amid exciting moments. Du Talake, who scored the match equalizer from a penalty corner, a minute before the final whistle was deservedly declared man of the match. Debutants China had a point to prove. No teams, irrespective of their World rankings, are mere pushovers. The point was well proved by both Ireland and China in the pool B games today. The Chinese created a sensation in the first quarter by becoming the first team to score. The goal that had the English defense shell shocked came in the fifth minute from Xiaoping Guo dribbled along the goal line to slam the ball home from an acute angle for what can be described as a goal of the tournament so far. Though England managed to strike back and restore parity nine minutes later yet the hard working Chinese had become the darling of the crowd. In the 14th minute Ames converted the first penalty corner earned by England in the tournament. England wrested back the initiative in the 48th minute through a brilliant opportunist goal by Lionel Ansell. It looked all over for China as England strived to play out the time. This turned it to be its undoing. In the 58th minute when China forced its fourth penalty corner, Du Talake made no mistake to the great cheers of the nearly packed stadium. England and China do not have a long history of playing each other. The only game between the two nations was played in the Hero Hockey League World Group semi finals where England won 2-0. Man of the match: Du Talake
