The Indian men's hockey team, led by a hat-trick from captain Harmanpreet Singh, clinched a thrilling 5-4 victory over Argentina in their FIH Pro League 2023-24 match in Antwerp. Scorers for India included Araijeet Singh Hundal (7'), Gurjant Singh (18'), and Harmanpreet Singh (29', 50', and 52'). On the other side, Argentina, ranked seventh, had goals from Federico Monja (3'), Nicolas Keenan (24'), Tadeo Marucci (54'), and Lucas Martinez (57').
India grab second place in FIH Pro League standings
This win propels India to second place in the 2023-24 FIH Pro League standings, accumulating 20 points from 12 matches.
India took control early in the game, dominating ball possession. Despite this, Argentina was the first to score, with Federico Monja netting a close-range shot to take the lead. India quickly leveled the score when Araijeet Singh Hundal executed a stunning field goal. Toward the end of the first quarter, India won a penalty corner but was unable to convert, leaving the score tied at 1-1 as the quarter closed.
Harmanpreet Singh runs riot with handsome hat-trick
The Indian men's hockey team entered the second quarter with momentum, quickly extending their lead after Gurjant Singh netted an impressive field goal during a rapid counter-attack. However, India's grip on the match loosened momentarily as they mishandled possession, leading to Argentina's Nicolas Keenan breaking through to score and tie the game at 2-2.
India quickly regained composure, with Harmanpreet Singh converting a penalty corner to edge ahead 3-2 just before the halftime whistle.
The third quarter saw both teams intensifying their attacks, making for an exciting game. Despite Harmanpreet's attempt from another penalty corner, the Argentine goalkeeper made a crucial save, keeping the quarter goalless.
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In the fourth quarter, the pace intensified as India pressed aggressively, causing Argentina to falter. This pressure resulted in a penalty stroke five minutes into the quarter, which Harmanpreet Singh executed perfectly, extending India's lead to 4-2. He replicated his success with another penalty stroke minutes later. Argentina didn't back down, with Tadeo Marucci and Lucas Martinez scoring quickly to narrow the gap and heighten the game's suspense. Ultimately, the match concluded with India securing a 5-4 victory. Looking ahead, the Indian men's hockey team is set to face Germany on Saturday, starting the London phase of their campaign.
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