India clawed back from a tough encounter against New Zealand to register a 3-2 victory, and in the process stayed on course to the final in the 31st Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh today.
With the win, the Indians amassed nine points after four matches, while New Zealand have seven points.
Amit Rohidas came to India’s rescue once again as the five-time champions held on to a 1-0 lead until the end of the first half.
The Indians got off the block at a fast pace, found their way into the semicircle and earned a penalty corner. Amit sneaked the ball past goalkeeper George Enersen and into the net four minutes into the game.
Amit had also scored against Malaysia’s Speedy Tigers, which the Indians won 4-3 on Wednesday.
Team captain Sanjay further added misery to the Kiwis when he extended the lead to 2-0 in the 32nd minute from India’s second penalty corner opportunity. India had a total of four penalty corners and New Zealand’s three.
The Kiwis, however, leveled the score 2-2 through George Baker’s brace via a field goal and penalty corner conversion.
But the Indians were in no compromising mood as they went ahead 3-2 through Karthi Selvam’s field goal in the 54th minute. India was also awarded a penalty stroke a minute later but substitute goalkeeper Leon Hayward parried it away.
INDIA: Craig Fulton (Coach)
We just had to get through that rough patch. Halftime came at a good time, and then I thought we were much better in the third quarter.
They had plenty of chances. I think we did the same against Malaysia as we did against New Zealand. It was good defence, good set-piece defense. Our keepers played well.
NEW ZEALAND: Greg Nicol (New Zealand)
We played real well. We dominated a lot of the game, just that we are not doing the things that score goals. When you play against a team like India you have to make sure you score the goals. We know in every game that three goals is going to give you a chance and four goals is going to give you a win. And we did not get that. That is the challenge for us as a group.
