New Delhi: Ramandeep Singh’s brace helped India overturn an early deficit and beat Scotland 4-1 in their opening match of the Hero Hockey World League Semi-Final in London on Thursday.
Goals by Ramandeep (31st minute, 34th), Akashdeep Singh (40th) and Harmanpreet Singh (42nd) helped India win the Pool B encounter. Scotland captain Chris Grassick (6th) scored for the Scots.
Scotland displayed good attacking skills to put India on the back foot in the first quarter. They held on to the ball for a greater part, forcing the Indians to chase the game.
Grassick gave his team the lead beating Vikas Dahiya with a neat deflection to a baseline pass from Kenny Bain.
India played cautiously, rotating the ball only to make well-calculated entries into the striking circle.
Midfielder Sardar Singh was in the thick of things, trying to make space in the circle with his impressive dribbling. But Scotland held on till the end of the second quarter.
India began with fresh impetus after half time. Ramandeep Singh scored with a reverse hit from the top of the circle and struck again when forward S.V. Sunil assisted from the baseline.
India made amends to a poor start with two more goals in the quarter. Skipper Manpreet Singh set up Akashdeep’s goal, the forward timing his run to perfection to receive the pass.
India won their first penalty corner in the 42nd minute and young drag-flicker Harmanpreet Singh scored with a powerful shot to the top corner of the goal. At the end of the third quarter, India enjoyed a comfortable 4-1 lead which they defended resolutely till the hooter.
India’s next match is against Canada on June 17.
