Pool A contest finishes 1-1, a result which helps neither team
Pool A rivals India and Spain played out a hugely entertaining but ultimately frustrating 1-1 draw at the GreenFields Stadium. The result was one that neither team wanted, leaving them well adrift of the teams fighting it out for the top positions in the Pool. Both goals came in the first half, with Rupinder Singh netting a penalty stroke in the 28th minute before Roc Oliva netted a field goal six minutes later.
Seven minutes into the match, a timely interception from Spain captain Santi Freixa enabled Roc Oliva to break forward and win a penalty corner, but the Spaniards were thwarted by a fine save from brilliant India goalkeeper Sreejesh, who had yet another outstanding game.
The lively Indian attackers were a constant threat to the Spanish defence, forcing their opponents into a number of important challenges deep in their own circle to protect the goal of Quico Cortes.
The two sides played entertaining hockey throughout the first period, with Sreejesh saving from Salvador Piera before giant India defender Raghunath superbly charged down a Spanish penalty corner.
The deadlock was broken in the 28th minute when gifted India forward Mandeep Singh forced a rash challenge from Spanish defender Sergi Enrique, with umpire Roel van Eert immediately awarding a penalty stroke. Rupinder Singh made no mistake from the spot, slamming into the bottom left corner to give India a 1-0 lead.
The Indian advantage lasted just six minutes, with Roc Oliva firing into the net from the top of the circle after more terrific play from captain fantastic Freixa.
The frenetic action continued throughout the second half, with ball racing from one end to the other at breakneck speed. Freixa continued to stamp his class on the game with a visionary overhead pass to release a racing David Alegre through on goal, but the Spaniard could only send his lobbed effort wide of the target and ended up leaving the field injured after a heavy collision with the onrushing Sreejesh.
Both Sreejesh and Cortes goalkeepers were forced into action on regular occasions in the second half, with Sreejesh making two decent penalty corner saves while Cortes produced a sensational diving stick save to deny Rupinder’s goal-bound drag-flick.
Spain and India both had numerous chances to take the points, with Spain’s Piera hitting the side netting before Dharamvir Singh rattled a shot into the pads of Cortes five minutes from time.
Following the match Freixa said: “We have seen India’s previous two games and of course we were hoping to score in the final minutes, but actually we had more chances in the beginning of the match.”
India head coach Terry Walsh noted after the game: “In the end it is good to have a point. It is interesting to pick up a point in a game that we played resolutely and both teams could have won it. We had hoped to play more openly than we did and I congratulate the Spanish team on taking that away from us.”
Walsh added: “Moving forwards in this tournament and beyond, if we can get confidence then world hockey will be in a much better place.”