New Zealand vs. India: Sultan Azlan Shah Cup – Mid-match Analysis
India and New Zealand are currently face-to-face in the 20th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup that is being held in the Sultan Azlan Shah Stadium in Ipoh, Malaysia, since May 5.
The first-half was concluded with the scoreboard locked up at 2-2. The match was a head-to-head battle throughout the 35 minutes played by each side.
As the match opened-up, there were frequent ball exchanges with almost equal possession turnovers for both the teams. The first fifteen minutes of the match went score-less, due to the slow pace of the game.
Soon after, the game set-off with great intensity from the Indian side when they rushed into the defensive circle of the Black Sticks. On the 20th minute mark, India’s Sunil Sowmarpet attempted a potential shot, opening the score 1-0, to put India
in front.
New Zealand felt the pressure building onto them and made an aggressive run towards their attacking corner, in search of an equaliser. Consequently, Nicholas Wilson delivered a stunning shot and levelled the scores, at 1-1.
Black Stick’s attack was accompanied by a counter-attack made by the Indian side in the same minute, when Roshan Minz threw a pass at his forward companion, Gurwinder Singh Chandi. A slight touch by Chandi netted a goal, taking back their former one-goal
lead at 2-1, in the 24th minute.
In the next eight minutes, there were passes but no team managed to penetrate into the opponent’s circle with a potential scoring opportunity.
With the last five minutes on the clock, the match seemed to end in favour of India, until Blair Hilton made a run into the Indian semi-circle and attempted a shot. New Zealand availed another equaliser through the effort put in by the Black Stick in the
32nd minute, levelling the scores at 2-2.
The last three minutes passed by with no more additions to the score-board from either side. Resultantly, the first-half got concluded with the scores locked up at 2-2.
The second-half of the match is currently underway with an aggressive opening from the Black Sticks.
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