New Zealand trounce India 7-3 in the 20th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup – Recap
New Zealand humiliated the Indians by 7-3 in their match in the 20th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup that took place in the Sultan Azlan Shah Stadium in Ipoh, Malaysia on May 12.
The match went head-to-head in the first-half while the second-half was overpowered by the Black Sticks with consistent field domination.
As the match kicked off, the pace of the game was slow with not much scoring attempts made by either side in the first fifteen minutes.
However, the match built up intensity in the 20th minute when India made an attempt to break into the Black Sticks’ defensive circle. Sunil Sowmarpet delivered a potential shot and opened up the score 1-0, in favour of India.
The pressure built up as soon as the Black Sticks responded with an equaliser in the 24th minute that was attempted by Nicholas Wilson, levelling the score 1-1.
This goal gave rise to a counter-attack that resulted out of the combined efforts of Roshan Minz and Gurwinder Singh Chandi, during the same minute. Minz delivered a pass to Chandi who deflected the ball home, taking the lead 2-1.
Until the last five minutes of the half, the match seemed to be in the hands of the Indian side when New Zealand’s Blair Hilton made a run and sealed an equaliser for the Black Sticks in the 32nd minute, tying it up 2-2.
Half-break was called with the scores locked up at 2-2.
In the second half, an improved Black Sticks side was found playing on the ground. However, the Indians took the lead in the 41st minute when Chandi reappeared to deliver a shot home, breaking the lock at 3-2.
In the next five minutes, New Zealand again managed to earn an equaliser when Hayward struck a shot home, converting the team’s first penalty corner in the 46th minute and taking the score 3-3.
From here onwards, New Zealand led the match with great power and soaked up the pressure of their opponents with their successive penalty corners.
They received their second penalty corner in the next six minutes, this time taken by the Capital player Matt L'Huillier, who gave the Black Sticks a lead of 4-3.
A mistake committed by the Indian captain Arjun Hallapa allowed New Zealand their third penalty corner in the 57th minute when Hayward scored his third goal of the game, advancing the lead at 5-3.
In the very next minute, Shay Neal attempted a shot home and gave the Black Sticks another goal to take the score to 6-3.
The second half continued as a solitary play for New Zealand when they earned their sixth penalty corner with just nine minutes left in the game. Hilton attempted the conversion and ended up successful with the score 7-3, in the 64th minute.
Two minutes from time and India managed to earn their first penalty corner that went to waste as the Black Sticks’ goal-keeper Andrew denied Rupinder Pal’s shot, keeping the score 7-3.
New Zealand counter-attacked but failed to avail another score against India. In the end, the match concluded with a one-sided win for New Zealand of 7-3 over India.
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