Ipoh: Rupinder Pal Singh converted two penalty corners as India outclassed New Zealand 4-0 to clinch a bronze medal in the 26th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, here Saturday.
Rupinder Pal sent identical ground drag-flicks into the corner past New Zealand goalkeeper Richard Joyce’s outstretched right hand in the 17th and 27th minutes. SV Sunil then scored his first goal of the tournament in the 48th minute as he captitalised on a cross from Mandeep Singh into the goalmouth, while Talwinder Singh rounded off India’s scoring in the last minute.
Having failed to earn a place in the final after a listless show Friday in the last preliminary league encounter against Malaysia, India gave an improved display to clinch the bronze medal – a shade below their silver medal behind Australia in the tournament last year.
Combining well, the Indian strikers showed purpose when they moved into the rival territory, but India missed three sitters in the first quarter that ended goalless. India started with two successive penalty corners in the second minute of play, but the Kiwi defenders denied Harmanpreet Singh a good look at the goal.
Captain Manpreet Singh’s brilliant flair in the fifth minute saw him break into the circle down the right flank and feed a cross to Mandeep, who failed to deflect the ball toward the goal. Mandeep was again the culprit when he failed to get his stick to the ball with a gaping goal in front.
However, early in the second session, Rupinder Pal converted India’s third penalty corner with a stinging shot. After Talwainder had wasted another sitter in the 24th minute, Manpreet earned India their fourth penalty corner. Rupinder Pal’s pile-driver hit the legs of a Kiwi defender and India got their fifth PC. This time, Rupi converted with aplomb.
After a barren third quarter, India again applied pressure in the fourth. Sunil finally got his name in the scorers’ list deflecting a Mandeep cross into the Kiwi goal. With seconds to go for the hooter, Talwindwer scored off a reverse hit after Manpreet had done the spadework with a fine solo run down the middle.
PTI
