India beat Spain by two goals to start the World Cup with a win

A confident Indian team beat Spain 2.0 in their opening match of the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup at the Birsa Munda Stadium on Friday. Made a great start by defeating 0. The victory boosted the hopes of the Indian team, which has been waiting for a medal in the World Cup for the last 48 years, to top Pool D and make it directly to the quarter-finals. As soon as Amit Rohidas of Sundargarh district, which is called the nursery of Indian hockey, scored the first goal in the 12th minute from the penalty corner, the whole stadium was echoed with the noise of the spectators.

This was the first international match at the Birsa Munda Stadium, which is said to be the world’s largest hockey stadium. The second goal for India was scored by Hardik Singh in the 26th minute, who went into the circle with the ball alone. India dominated in terms of ball control and the margin of victory could have been bigger had India missed four out of five penalty corners. Captain Harmanpreet Singh, one of the best drag-flickers in the world, could not score on the penalty stroke.

Young wicketkeeper Krishan Bahadur Pathak pulled off some brilliant saves including a penalty corner. Spain, who beat India in two out of four Pro League matches last year, saw all three penalty corners go in vain. It was only in the dying minutes of the first quarter that India went on the offensive, winning three consecutive penalty corners and Rohidas scoring the second. After this, India got another penalty corner but Harmanpreet could not score.

India continued to dominate in the second quarter and four minutes before half-time, Hardik, running down the left, scored a brilliant solo field goal. No goals could be scored in the third and fourth quarters. Two minutes after the break, India got a penalty stroke but Harmanpreet, looking under pressure, failed to convert. Earlier in another match, England defeated Wales by 5. beat by 0.