The Indian men's hockey team were handed their second consecutive loss in the FIH Pro League after Argentina beat the hosts via shoot-out at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Saturday.
Only Harmanpreet Singh was able to score during the shoot-out as India went down 1-3 after the match finished 2-2 in the regulation time. Argentine goalkeeper Tomas Santiago put on an impressive performance as three Indian players - Abhishek, Gurjant Singh and Sukhjeet Singh - failed to sound the board.
As for PR Sreejesh, he did deny Martin Ferreiro, but that wasn't enough in the end.
The loss will surely hurt the Indian team who failed to convert their chances. India, captained by Amit Rohidas, had as many as 32 circle penetrations but could only score twice. Also, it was an off day for the drag flickers as they couldn't convert any of the five.
India coach Graham Reid, however, should be happy with Sukhjeet's performance. Be it in the middle or down the left flank, he marvelled with his stickwork and had the Argentine defenders in a frenzy.
Earlier, it was India who took the lead after Gurjant scored in the 38th minute. Argentina dominated the proceeding in the first half-an-hour, but it was India who upped the tempo in the second and were duly rewarded. Jugraj Singh slapped the ball hard from near the 23m line into the D past the Argentine defenders and Gurjant, standing at the far post, got down just in time to deflect the ball into the net.
But India's lead was short-lived as Argentina equalized in the dying minutes of the third quarter. Argentina captain Matias Rey played the ball back between his legs at the top of the circle to Nicolas Costa, who turned past the defenders and took the shot. Krishan Pathak came out early, but the ball took a deflection off Jugraj's stick and lobbed into the air and then into the net.
Argentina scored once again seven minutes into the fourth quarter after winning their second PC of the match. Nicolas della Torre, who failed to convert their first PC, played it towards Nicolas Keenan on the left and he guided the ball into the net with ease.
But with 43 seconds remaining, India equalized as Mandeep Singh and Sukhjeet together broke down the Argentine defence. Sukhjeet, with a defender on his back, trapped the ball inside the circle, turned around and gave an inch-perfect pass from the right to Mandeep. Standing at the far post, Mandeep stopped it and scored past the goalkeeper, who had no chance to keep it out.
India, however, did lose it in the end via shoot-out but got a point for the draw. They will need to put on a better show on Sunday against the South Americans, who are under a rebuilding process after several of their senior players retired post Olympics.
