Rampaging India thrash New Zealand 7-4 in FIH Men's Pro League

BHUBANESWAR: India dished out an impressive brand of attacking hockey after trailing 1-3 at one stage to thrash New Zealand 7-4 in a high-scoring thriller in the FIH Men's Pro League in Bhubaneswar on Friday night.

The home side, who had beaten the same opponents 4-3 in the first leg on October 28, struggled in the first 15 minutes by conceding three goals but turned the match on its head as they struck two goals each in the next three quarters.

New Zealand dominated the first quarter but later withered under India's incessant onslaught as they could score just one goal in the next three 15-minute periods.

Captain Harmanpreet Singh (7th and 19th minute; both PCs), Karthi Selvam (17th and 38th), Raj Kumar Pal (31st), Sukhjeet Singh (50th) and Jugraj Singh (53rd) scored for India.

For New Zealand, Simon Child (2nd), Sam Lane (9th), Smith Jake (14th) and Nic Woods (54th) were the scorers.

In the final analysis, it was a dominating performance by the Indians who produced fine attacking hockey with 29 circle penetrations as against 13 by New Zealand. India also had 56 per cent ball possession and 12 shots at opposition goal as against six of the visiting team.

India head coach Graham Reid had talked about defensive lapses in the earlier two matches of the season and on Friday also, the home side committed blunders to concede three goals in the first 15 minutes though they pulled one back in that period. Agencies

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