Madrid: Skipper Rani Rampal (33th, 37th) and defender Gurjit Kaur (44th, 50th) scored a brace each as Indian defeated hosts Spain 4-1 in the final match to draw the five-match series 2-2 and finish their campaign Tuesday on a winning note here at Consejo Superior de Deportes Hockey Stadium here. The eves had lost the fourth game by an identical margin and so Tuesday’s win was a sweet revenge for them.
India dominated the match rightly from the start and could have taken the lead in the second minute. However, forward Vandana Katariya’s powerful hit was brilliantly saved by Spanish goalie Maria Ruiz. India did earn two penalty corners in the next five minutes but failed to convert.
The floodgates opened in the third quarter with India scoring three goals. Rani opened the floodgates in the 33rd minute finding the target off a Namita Toppo prompt.
Four minutes later it was Rani again and this time too after a delightful team move, the 23-year-old found the back of the net to increase India’s lead to 2-0. Gurjit made it 3-0 in the 44th minute from a penalty corner.
India’s dominance continued in the last quarter as they won two penalty corners in the first five minutes. While the first was saved by the Spanish defence, Gurjit converted the second to make it 4-0. Lola Riera pulled one back for the hosts in the 58th minute.