India finished their home leg of this season's FIH Pro League with a 4-0 win over Ireland at the Birsa Munda Stadium in Rourkela on Sunday. Goals from Nilakanta Sharma, Akashdeep Singh, Gurjant Singh and Jugraj Singh gave India the points, in a game where the scoreline flattered them.
Ireland play eye-catching attacking hockey, and their man-marking system completely stifled any build-up play India had in the first two quarters. PR Sreejesh, in goal for the whole game this time, had to make some smart saves, before a two-minute spell at the end of the first half turned the tide in India's favour.
First, Nilakanta scored on the rebound after Harmanpreet Singh's dragflick was blocked. The midfield was alert to the loose ball and smashed it with power into the ground and into the net. Akashdeep doubled the lead a minute later after an excellent reverse-hit pass by Sanjay from the left flank left the forward with an empty net to tap into.
Ireland continued to be plucky and created more chances in the second half, but just couldn't find that finishing touch. Gurjant added the third for India after Manpreet gave him an open goal to tap into with a superb reverse hit pass from the left.
Sreejesh continued to be tested, but he was upto it. He played the whole game, as Krishan Bahadur Pathak was away with his family, as his expecting his first child.
The exclamation on the win was put by a powerful Jugraj dragflick, as India came away with the three points after two straight draws.
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