London: Continuing with their impressive run, India blanked Canada 3-0 to register their second consecutive win at the Hockey World League Semi-Final here Saturday.
India scored three field goals through SV Sunil (fifth minute), Akashdeep Singh (10th) and Sardaer Singh (18th) to pocket full three points from the Pool B game at the Lee Valley Hockey Centre.
The win virtually secured India’s place in the quarterfinals of the tournament. India had earlier defeated Scotland 4-1 in their opening encounter Thursday. The sixth ranked Indians will play archrivals Pakistan in their next pool match Sunday.
In the first quarter India’s persistent attacks resulted in the first goal in the fifth minute when Sunil scored from a narrowest of angles after his initial shot was saved by Carter. India doubled their lead five minutes later through Akashdeep who neatly deflected in a Ramandeep pass.
India continued in the same vein in the second quarter and increased their lead in the 18th minute through Sardar who pushed home from a Ramandeep pass.
India earned their second penalty corner in the 25th minute but Jasjeet Singh Khular’s try went wide of the target as Roelant Oltmans’ men went into the breather with a comfortable 3-0 lead.
Three minutes into the second half, Canada earned a penalty corner but India goalkeeper Akash Chikte made three saves in quick succession.
Minutes later, India secured their third penalty corner and skipper Manpreet Singh’s try from a variation was brilliantly kept away by Carter. The Indians continued to press hard and garnered two more penalty corners but failed to capitalise on the chances yet again.
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