The Indian women’s hockey team conceded a late goal to lose 0-1 to co-hosts Spain in the crossover match and crash out of the title race of FIH World Cup Spain in Terassa.
Marta Segu scored the winner in the 57th minute of the match after both the teams fought hard for the major part of the game, which witnessed three goalless quarters.
India had the first shy at the goal in the eighth minute when they secured a penalty corner, only to see it go in vain.
Spain then launched a counter-attack but Beatriz Perez shot wide off the target. Spain secured back-to-back penalty corners soon but failed to get past the resolute Indian defence.
In the second quarter, both the teams traded PCs but goalkeepers of the two sides were on top of their game.
Savita made three brilliant saves off a set piece which Spain won early in the second quarter before Spanish goalie Melanie Garcia came up with her ‘A game’ to deny India from two penalty corners.
With the scoreboard reading 0-0, the match continued to remain tense in the third quarter.
While India showed the right intent and dominated the ball possession, they were simply not able to break the deadlock. Spain, meanwhile, came up with some good circle penetrations but their strikers were not on target. The final quarter was action-packed with Spain getting off the mark with a good attack but Savita yet again defended well. The Indian forward line, on the other hand, launched a fine attack with Salima Tete and Lalremsiami in the circle but missed the target by a whisker.
With about seven minutes of play remaining, Spain skipper Oliva Georgina became the cynosure of her team’s attack, taking some potential shots on goal but was not successful in beating India’s experienced defenders.
Just when it looked like the match would go into the shootout, Spain found a breakthrough in the 57th minute.
It was Clara Ycart who drove into India’s circle and took a shot on goal, but Savita blocked it away, however, Segu was perfectly positioned in front of the goal-mouth to pick up the rebound and put it past India’s goalkeeper.
Though India fought hard in the dying seconds of the match, Spain defended well.
India will play Canada in the 9th to 16th place classification here on Tuesday.