The Indian women’s hockey team secured their third win on the trot when they downed Canada 3-1 at the Manheim turf in Pennsylvania on Saturday.
As the referee’s whistle got the match underway, the Indian unit appeared to be in pretty decent nick having come off back-to-back victories in their previous outings at the venue. For all the fast-paced action that raged on the field in the course of the first fifteen minutes, there was nothing to show as neither side could manage a breakthrough.
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Tied goalless at the end of the 1st quarter, the Blueskirts drew first blood as soon as play resumed, with Haryana forward Poonam Rani hitting home her 2nd goal in as many games in the 19th minute to make it 1-0 for India. The joy, however, was shortlived since the Canadians responded almost immediately through Natalie Sourisseau‘s stick in the 21st minute to cancel out India’s advantage.
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The remainder of the second quarter was closely contested but didn’t see any goal that could alter the scoreline. Nothing could separate the teams sitting with one goal apiece at halftime which, thus called for an exciting latter half to decide the winner.
Coming out onto the field for the second half, halfback Renuka Yadav didn’t waste any time as her direct shot in the 32nd minute settled into the back of Canada’s woodwork to see India regain their one-goal lead.
The 4th quarter had both sides creating multiple chances and the Canadians came close as well, but the Indians did well to protect their slender advantage till the very end. Finally, it was Anuradha Devi Thokchom, the striker from Manipur who stretched India’s margin to that of two goals pushing the game far beyond Canada’s reach with a fine strike in the 58th minute to close things off 3-1 for India.
