Skipper Harmanpreet Singh managed to break through the Argentinian defence in the penultimate minute to help India share points in the Pool B clash between the two teams on Monday at the 2024 Paris Olympics. (Highlights | Olympics Full Coverage | More Sports Stories)
Lucas Martinez had put Argentina ahead in the 22nd minute to leave India playing catch-up for the majority of the match. However, in the dying minutes of the game, India went on an all out attack getting four back-to-back penalty corners with the skipper Harmanpreet finding the back of the net on the last one.
India who entered the match as slight favourites, started on a high note. India dominated possession and kept threatening the Argentinian defence. However, led by goalkeeper Tomas Santiago, Argentina refused to give into the Indian attacks. India failed to convert a few penalty corners and one Abhishek shot hit the crossbar.
Missed chances came to haunt Harmanpreet and co as against the run of play, Argentina struck first. Lucas Martinez got one to sneak past an outstretched PR Sreejesh in the second quarter to leave India behind.
With momentum on their side, Argentina now began to take the game into India's half. Especially in the third quarter, Argentina played on the front-foot keeping India on the defensive.
It seemed the Argentines would double their lead when they got a penalty stroke in the sixth minute of the third quarter. Casella Schuth missed a the stroke by shooting wide of the goalpost, much to the relief of India.
The back and forth continued but the score remained locked at 1-0 in Argentina's favour. Argentina got another easy chance which they bungled with just five minutes on the clock.
At this point India went all in for the attack, substituting their goalkeeper Sreejesh. Things began to turn as India controlled possession almost without fail in the last five minutes.
With just two minutes left on the clock, the Indian attack finally bore fruit as they got four back-to-back penalty corners. The last of these was timely converted by Harmanpreet to give India one point.
India are now third in Pool B behind Belgium and Australia. They next play Ireland on Tuesday, July 30.
