In the FIH Pro League 2023-24 match at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, the Indian men’s hockey team secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Ireland on Friday. Gurjant Singh clinched the winning goal for the hosts in the final minute of the game.
India ranked fourth globally, initiated the match aggressively, earning their first penalty corner in the third minute, but captain Harmanpreet Singh’s drag-flick was blocked by an Irish defender.
Despite Ireland, ranked 11th in hockey, gradually finding their footing and enjoying more possession in the opening quarter, they failed to trouble the Indian defence with any significant attacks. Their first notable opportunity came in the 11th minute, with Matthew Nelson’s shot missing the target.
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India struggled to maintain possession in the midfield, resulting in a goalless first quarter. The second quarter saw both teams probing each other’s defenses without success, although India had better ball control and earned two penalty corners.
In the third quarter, India continued to dominate possession but couldn’t penetrate the Irish circle. An Indian goal in the 33rd minute was disallowed due to a foul.
The final quarter saw India persistently pressuring the Irish defense, eventually breaking the deadlock in the 60th minute through Gurjant’s field goal. Despite Ireland’s efforts, the late goal secured a 1-0 win for India.
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