Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2018 hockey, India vs Argentina highlights: IND lose 2-3 to ARG
Gonzalo Peillat’s hat-trick helped Argentina beat India 3-2 in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2018 hockey opener in Ipoh today. Follow highlights of India vs Argentina here.
Drag-flicker Gonzalo Peillat’s hat-trick did the job as the Argentinian hockey team defeated India 3-2 in the opening game of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2018 at Ipoh in Malaysia today. While Peillat scored all three goals for the Olympic champions, Amit Rohidas scored a brace to keep India in contention till the last minute. World No.6 India will take on No.7 England at the same venue for their second game of the six-nation invitational tournament on Sunday at 1330 hours IST. This is India’s final tournament before they take part in the all-important 2018 Commonwealth Games to be held in Gold Coast, Australia, from April 4 to 15. Follow highlights of India vs Argentina, Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2018 hockey here.
16:00 hrs IST: Hope you enjoyed our coverage. Join us tomorrow.
15:55 hrs IST: Return tomorrow to see India take on England at the same time and at the same venue.
15:50 hrs IST: No goals in the last 10-minutes and India lose to Olympic champions Argentina 2-3
15:45 hrs IST: Both teams are playing quite aggressively in Ipoh
15:42 hrs IST: India are trying hard for a goal and less than five minutes left in the game
15:41 hrs IST: Rested, both teams have come out with full energy!
15:38 hrs IST: Less than eight minutes left and India need an equaliser
15:35 hrs IST: And here we go. Can India equalise?
15:32 hrs IST: Good news. Play is about to start in three minutes.
15:27 hrs IST: Still no update. We’ll keep you posted.
15:17 hrs IST: 10 minutes of the India vs Argentina game still remain
15:15 hrs IST: Meanwhile the England hockey team are playing cricket in a corridor of the stadium as they await the rain to pass
15:10 hrs IST: Keep following us. We will keep you posted
15:06 hrs IST: The next game on the pitch is between Australia and England at 1530 hours IST. That match is also likely to be delayed
15:03 hrs IST: Heavy rain has stopped play in Ipoh. Approximately 10 minutes left in the day’s play
14:59 hrs IST: Match has been suspended due to adverse weather conditions
14:58 hrs IST: Boy Argentina are aggressive! Another PC! But India defend well. ARG still lead 3-2
14:55 hrs IST: Last few minutes. Make or break time for both the teams
14:50 hrs IST: End of 3rd quarter. 15 minutes left.
14:45 hrs IST: Gonzalo Peillat is slowly approaching the level of greatness. His strikes, conversion rates, skills, power just something drag-flickers should learn from
14:41 hrs IST: All five goals have come via drag flicks in this match!
14:39 hrs IST: Peillat has scored a hat-trick! Argentina lead again!
14:37 hrs IST: Argentina immediately into the attack and get penalty corner and they score! ARG 3-2 in lead again
14:35 hrs IST: The second half has started and India have scored immediately! Rohidas into the act again!
14:23 hrs IST: It is half time and India go into the break 1-2 down
14:21 hrs IST: They fail to score and a good defence by India. India still trail 1-2
14:20 hrs IST: Oh! Looks like another PC for Argentina and Peillat is getting ready
14:19 hrs IST: That was a beautiful strike by Rohidas in the 26th minute
14:17 hrs IST: Amit Rohidas scores for India! India finally on the board and 1-2 behind!
14:15 hrs IST: Penalty corner for India, they waste it, another chance!
14:12 hrs IST: Argentina score! They are 2-0 ahead! It is Peillat again! This time in the 24th minute
14:10 hrs IST: Argentina earn their third penalty corner of the match and India are yet to get one
14:07 hrs IST: India maintain ball possession but need make advances. One goal is all that is needed right now as we know the game of hockey can change pretty quickly
14:02 hrs IST: And here begins the second quarter
14:00 hrs IST: End of first quarter and Argentina are 1-0 ahead!
13:57 hrs IST: Another PC and this time Argentina score via penalty corner of Gonzalo Peillat in the 14th minute
13:56 hrs IST: Penalty corner for Argentina but good defence from India. Scores 0-0
13:53 hrs IST: Less than five minutes remain in 1st quarter
13:51 hrs IST: The tempo of the game has increased and India continue to dominate possession but they need to create better chances
13:47 hrs IST: Impressive start from India so far. They have not just held Argentina but also have had a few chances. That was a close one from Simranjeet Singh, should have scored
13:46 hrs IST: India are dominating play at the moment with maximum ball possession
13:45 hrs IST: OH! India claim penalty corner but the referee says no!
13:43 hrs IST: Veteran Sardar Singh is leading India while Krishan Pathak is the wicketkeeper
13:41 hrs IST: Defensive start for India
13:40 hrs IST: The match begins!
13:36 hrs IST: While Argentina are ranked two in the world, India are six
13:34 hrs IST: The national anthems are being played!
13:33 hrs IST: Just to let you know, Indian hockey team is the second most successful team at the tournament after Australia. While Australia have nine titles, India have 5
13:32 hrs IST: Big test coming up for India who are taking on Olympic champions Argentina.
13:30 hrs IST: The two teams are stepping out to take part in the 27th edition of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup
13:28 hrs IST: The other major tournaments will be the Asian Games, the Asian Champions Trophy and the World Cup at home in November-December
13:25 hrs IST: This will be the real test for the Indian hockey team before they proceed to take part in the Commonwealth Games at Gold Coast in Australia from April 4 to 15
13:20 hrs IST: This is the first major tournament in 2018 for the Indian hockey team. Before this they took part in an invitational four-nation tournament in New Zealand which involved India, hosts New Zealand, Japan and Belgium. India lost both the finals to Belgium
13:16 hrs IST: In fact this is the opening match of the six-team invitational tournament
13:10 hrs IST: India will take on Olympic champions in their Sultan Azlan Shah Cup opener at Ipoh in Malaysia
13:00 hrs IST: Hello and welcome to the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2018 match between India and Argentina.
Olympic champions Argentina, meanwhile, are in Ipoh without the services of their celebrated coach Carlos Retegui who has resigned from the top job. It was under the tutelage of Retegui that Argentina had won their only Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in 2008.
It is also interesting to note that under Sardar Singh’s captaincy, India have never returned home from Sultan Azlan Shah without a medal. In 2008, he captained the team to a silver Medal, and in 2015 and 2016, he led the team to a bronze and silver medal respectively.