Bhubaneswar: In a thrilling encounter at the Kalinga Stadium, Gurjant Singh’s dramatic last-minute goal propelled India to a hard-fought 1-0 triumph over Ireland, concluding the Bhubaneswar leg of the FIH Hockey Pro League 2023/24 on Friday.
The lone goalscorer, Gurjant Singh, found the net in the 60th minute, securing a crucial win for India. The home team initiated the match with a structured attack, earning their first penalty corner in the third minute. However, Harmanpreet’s drag-flick was thwarted by an Irish defender near the post.
While Ireland gradually settled in and gained more ball possession, the Indian defense remained resolute, preventing any significant threats to the goal. Ireland’s first notable chance came in the 11th minute, but Matthew Nelson’s shot missed the target.
Despite India’s underwhelming start, they improved their ball possession in the second quarter. Two penalty corners in the 20th and 24th minutes, however, were efficiently defended by the disciplined Irish side, resulting in a goalless first half.
The third quarter mirrored the previous ones, with India dominating possession but struggling to breach the Irish circle. Despite numerous goal-scoring opportunities, the Irish defense held firm, maintaining a 0-0 scoreline by the end of the quarter.
In the final quarter, India displayed urgency, earning early penalty corners. Harmanpreet’s attempts were denied, but India persisted, creating continuous pressure. In the 60th minute, Gurjant Singh capitalized on a well-received ball from Hardik Singh inside the crowded Irish circle, breaking the deadlock with a powerful shot through the goalie’s legs.
With this late goal, India sealed a 1-0 victory over Ireland, marking a thrilling end to the Bhubaneswar leg of the FIH Hockey Pro League. The Indian men’s hockey team will now head to Rourkela for their upcoming fixtures, commencing with a match against Spain on Monday.