Tokyo: Navneet Kaur scored a late goal when the Indian woman’s hockey team made her quarter-finals alive at the Olympics with a 1-0 victory over Ireland in a rear collection match that must be owned here on Friday.
After three quarters less, which was fully dominated by India but failed to penetrate the Irish defense led by goalkeeper Ayeisha McFerran, Navneet finally found the back of the net in the 57th minute to bring a smile on the face of India.
Requiring a victory to keep their hopes of life after three consecutive losses, India had to wait anxiously for 57 minutes even though it was a dominant team that displayed and created an opportunity for countless assessments.
India has abundant opportunities from the opening whistle and gets 14 points of penalty but fails to take advantage of them.
But the brilliance moment of Captain Rani rampal, who created the opportunity for Navneet, saved India from the exit of the earlier game.
Navneet is in the right place at the right time to knock the ball in.
India now needs to win their last match match against South Africa on Saturday and hope for Ireland to face defeat in the hands of the United Kingdom to seal their quarter-final bed.
The top four teams from each pool are eligible for the knockout stage.
India starts aggressive and penetrates the Irish circle of countless times but, as has happened in the tournament so far, the front line does not have finishing.
While India dominated the first two quarters, they failed to change their dominance into a goal.
Indian dominance can be measured from the fact that they produce 10 penalty angles in the first two quarters but wasted all.
India got their first penalty angle in eight minutes and two minutes later they secured two pieces again after Navneet’s back shot was saved by the McFerran Irish goalkeeper.
India got two corners of penalties per minute from the end of the first quarter but the script was the same.
Ireland came out in the second quarter and dominated the initial exchange of sessions.
They secured a penalty in the 18th minute which did not produce results.
In the 22nd minute, Lalremsami was rejected by McFerran Onrushing from the situation one on one.
Ireland had two chances in the second quarter – first in the form of a penalty angle and then from the open game – but on both occasions India goalkeeper Savita came to his rescue team.
Waiting that made India frustration continued up to a minute before half-time they wasted five penalties.
As soon as the Indian end change gets three corners of the penalty again but finishing is less.
A few minutes later, Ireland got a penalty corner who defended it handsomely.
In the 39th minute, Sharmila Devi made a brilliant solo run from midfield and after entering the circle trying to hit the upside stick stored by McFerran.
India secured their 14th and last penalty angle immediately but once again made the opportunity.
But Indians did not give up and continued to attack and a few minutes from the last Navneet Hooter saved his side from the initial elimination, a lot to eliminate the main coach Sjoerd Marijne.