London: Indian women are in danger of missing out on a quarterfinal berth after Ireland pulled off a 1-0 victory in a hockey World Cup group league match, here Thursday.
A 13th minute penalty corner conversion by Anna O’Flanagan was all that Ireland required as they doggedly defended to record consecutive upsets in the tournament en route a quarterfinal berth. Ireland had earlier shocked World No.7 USA 3-1 in their tournament opener.
It was also India’s second consecutive defeat to Ireland having lost to the same opponents 1-2 in their last encounter at the Hockey World League Semifinals in Johannesburg last year.
By virtue of this win, Ireland are now leading Pool B with six points, followed by England (two points), India and USA (one point each).
Placed six places above Ireland in the world rankings at No.10, the Indians came into the match as favourites but they never looked the part. Ireland, on the other hand, grew in confidence as the match progressed and looked more threatening.
It was not that India did not create enough chances. If they failed to secure a single penalty corner in their 1-1 draw against England, they secured seven against Ireland but failed to utilise a single one.
On the other Ireland took an early lead from their first penalty corner when O’Flanagan scored with a great deflection from a set piece. In total Ireland earned three penalty corners.
India also had chances to score from open play but the forwards lacked finishing touch as Ireland well. In the last minute of the second quarter, Lilima Minz got an open ball inside the box but her feeble shot was an easy save for the Ireland goalkeeper as India went into the breather trailing by a goal.
Skipper Rani Rampal got the best opportunity for India to draw level as she surged inside the circle after snatching the ball from an Irish defender but her fierce shot from one-on-one situation was just parried out by the Irish goalie.