Bhubaneswar, Feb 15: A confident India began their campaign in the Women’s Pro League with a 3-2 win against higher-ranked England at the Kalinga Hockey Stadium here on Saturday.
Two of India’s goals came from penalty corners with Vaishnavi Phalke scoring the opener in the sixth minute and Deepika smashing the winner in the 25th, while Navneet Kaur struck the winner with just one minute left in the game.
Darcy Bourne (12th) and Fiona Crackles (58th) scored for England.
Vaishnavi opened the account from India, ranked ninth in the FIH, after a firmly-struck shot from Manisha Chauhan off the first penalty corner hit a defender’s stick and came back into play.
Vaishnavi was perfectly placed to decisively hit the ball into the net.
India looked confident and showed the intent to ruffle the seventh-ranked England with pace and short passes.
They came close to doubling the lead in the ninth minute but veteran forward Lalremsiami failed to connect her stick with a long, diagonal cross.
However, quite against the run of play, England struck when a sloppy clearance by defender Ishika Chaudhary saw Darcy just push the ball straight into the goal from close to bring up the equaliser.
A minute later, goalkeeper Savita Punia bravely saved a firmly-hit reverse flick from crashing into the net with just two minutes in the first quarter, leaving India coach Harendra Singh in a sport of bother.
Tessa Howard fired a powerful shot from the left, but Savita produced a strong save to keep the score tied at 1-1.
A pep-talk from the former India player at the break, saw India settle into a rhythm and enter the turf with more purpose.
Deepika marked her milestone 50th international appearance with a crucial goal, converting the hosts’ second penalty corner with a rasping shot to give her team a 2-1 lead again.
The third quarter was an entertaining end-to-end battle, with both sides attacking aggressively.
India focused on controlling the midfield, while England attempted to exploit the flanks.
Katie Curtis stood out for England, using her stick skills to advance the ball, but India remained resolute in defense, intercepting key passes.
In the 42nd minute, India earned another penalty corner, and Deepika unleashed a powerful shot, only to be denied by the English goalkeeper.
England gained momentum in the final quarter, earning three consecutive penalty corners, but failed to convert any of them.
Their relentless pressure finally paid off when Fiona found the equaliser.
Just a minute later, vice-captain Navneet struck powerfully from the edge of the shooting circle, sending the ball through the goalkeeper’s legs and into the net to seal the dramatic win. (PTI)
