Indian women trounce Azerbaijan by 6-1 in ESB Electric Ireland FIH Champions Challenge I
Saba Anjum scored three goals and had an assist, as India marked a commanding 6-1 victory over Azerbaijan in the last group match of the ESB Electric Ireland FIH Champions Challenge I that took place in Dublin, on June 21,
2011.
The Indian girls notched six goals against the solitary of their competitors and moved into the knockout stage of the tournament. With a convincing victory against Azerbaijan, the Indian team secured second place at the point-chart with one win, one draw
and one loss. On the other hand, the team of Azerbaijan is holding third position in the Pool-B with one win and two defeats.
The two squads entered on the field with a great passion, but it was the team of Indian Women that held the ball under their possession throughout the first half.
The Indian team, under the captainship of Saba Anjum, commenced the contest in quite an aggressive way. They accomplished a large number of attacks which served them in the form of four goals in the very early minutes. It was not anyone else than Saba, who
drew the first blood in the 4th minute of the game and took a single goal lead in the game. She managed to take the ball at the top of the circle and executed a well-organised shot that moved right into the goal-post. In a matter of three minutes,
she regained the ball under her stick and doubled the tally with a brilliant field effort. In the 10th minute of the game, Deepika converted a short-corner and expanded the lead up to three goals, 3-0.
The Indian team continued their to-and-fro attacks and made their position strengthened into the game. Rani added a goal in the 18th minute of the match and took an overwhelming four-goal advantage. With three minutes remaining on the clock, Saba
scored another goal and closed out the period at 5-0.
The second half was quite slow as compared to the first one. It seemed that the Indian strikers went on rest in the second round. The Azerbaijan attack came alive in the second period, but could only score only one goal. The Azerbaijan team earned a short-corner
and this time they tested Khatira Aliyeva, who didn’t miss the chance. She executed a low-flying scoop, which dodged through the pads of the Indian goalie. In a matter of five minutes, Jasjeet Kaur Handa accounted for a goal through the field effort and increased
the lead up to five goals. As the final whistle was sounded, the Indian team won the game by 6-1.
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