Press Trust of India
Antwerp, June 20: Indian men’s hockey team fired in a goal two minutes from the final hooter through Ramandeep Singh to pull off a 3-2 win over France and thus began their FIH World League Semifinals campaign on a winning note here Saturday.
Ramandeep lunged forward to slam the ball into the France net in the 58th minute courtesy the spadework of captain Sardar Singh to clinch the victory.
Asian Games champions India’s defence was given a harrowing time by the fast overlapping French strikers, who capitalised on counters to twice stun them. Olivier Sanchez (third minute) and Simon Martin Brisac (43rd) lifted the French team through flash strikes and India scored twice in the space of four minutes through Manpreet Singh (26th) and Devindar Walmiki (29th) to bring to level terms. The game was heading for a draw when Ramandeep scored in the 58th minute.
France took India by surprise with an early goal with unmarked striker Oliver Sanchez firing in from close range after getting the ball from the left.
India got the equaliser in the 26th minute from a penalty corner conversion by Manpreet Singh, who sent a low drag-flick into the left corner just past goalkeeper Martin Zylbermann’s reach.
Three minutes later, Sardar initiated an Indian move through his flank-changing pass from left that saw Dharamvir dart into the circle and send a diagonal pass for Devindar Walmiki to fire in.
France drew parity in the 43rd minute when a collision at the top of the circle between striker Tom Genestet and Indian defender Gurmail Singh sent the ball to Brisac, whose firm drive beat Sreejesh.
Just when it seemed the French had denied India full point came the match-winner from Ramandeep.