Match between India and Spain ends in a draw in ESB Electric Ireland FIH Champions Challenge I
The match between India and Spain on the second day of the ESB Electric Ireland FIH Champions Challenge I was enthralling for onlookers, which concluded with both teams locking horns at 1-1 after the two halves of play.
The cliff-hanging competition was held in Dublin on June 19, 2011. It was a greatest entertainment for the spectators of which a large number of Indians were also included.
It is vital to mention here that both the teams lost their opening games of the Champion Challenge I. Azerbaijan defeated Spain by a solitary goal, 2-1, while the host Ireland edged past Indian women by a single goal.
Both the squads landed on the field with a mission to make a maiden victory into the game. However, the Indian women were more active than the opponent, Spanish. They dominated the field with the ball possession and brilliant passing in the early minutes
of the first half. However, they missed plenty of chances and failed to score a goal.
The Spanish team has not found enough chances but only two major penetrations in the first 35 minutes. However, Yogita Bali the Indian goalie denied these efforts brilliantly.
Indian skipper, Saba Anjum, found a great chance in the early minutes to get a lead goal, but she failed to push it in the right direction. She found a gap at the left-flank, but her shot went over the crossbars. In the waning seconds of the first half,
India earned a short-corner, but to no avail.
On the other hand, Silvia Munoz, the outstanding Spanish defender, made a dive to clear the ball. The opening set of play completed with both teams locking horns at 0-0.
In the second half of play, both the teams started a more offensive style of play in order to get the game into their favour. Maria Lopez de Eguilaz, the seasoned professional of Spain, made a brilliant effort to block the strike from the opposite Indian
player. After the first score-less twenty minutes of the second half, the strikers from two squads adopted an aggressive style of play and carried out strikes against each other. With six minutes remaining on the clock, Spain obtained a short-corner and tested
Berta Bonastre who didn’t miss the chance. She proved her worth and put her team ahead on the score-board.
However, their joys were short lived as Indian team levelled the results in the second last minute of the game. Rani Poonam converted a short-corner and forced to draw the game after they locked horns at 1-1.
Following the draw, both the squads moved at the bottom line of the point chart. In ESB Electric Ireland FIH Champions Challenge I, Ireland with two victories is sitting on top while Azerbaijan is holding the second position.
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