Vitality Hockey Women's World Cup: India holds US to 1-1 draw, through to next round
A goal in the second half by skipper Rani Rampal helped India to hold the US to 1-1 draw and advance to the play off round for quarter finals in the Vitality Hockey Women's World Cup in London on Sunday.
Though both India and USA have two points, India moves to next round on better goal average. The USA thus gets eliminated.
Playing to a strategy, the US took an early lead in the first quarter as it needed an outright win to advance. It was Paulino who scored the early goal for the US to put India under pressure.
Though India had more chances at the US goal, it failed to use any of its first five penalty corners. It was only from the sixth, in the first minute of the second half, that skipper Rani Rampal, sounded the board with a rasping drive from the top of the circle.Though India had another penalty corner after the all important equaliser, it proved abortive.
India started the tournament well by holding the hosts and the Olympic champions England to 1-1 draw. But a demoralising 0-1 loss to Ireland in the second game, brought them under pressure.
Though India managed to draw the game against the US, but the game it played was disappointing. Erratic passes, lack of ideas, no combined moves and inability to convert penalty corners were all exposed. Lucky for India, the US team, too, played under pressure and also played disjointed game in the second half.
India will now play Italy in the elimination round for a berth in quarter-finals.
