A profligate Indian staff squandered probabilities galore to lose 0-1 to lower-ranked United States of America in its opening match of the FIH Women’s Olympic Qualifier in Ranchi on Saturday. Ranked sixth on the planet, India dominated the possession and created quite a few scoring probabilities, together with as many as seven penalty corners, however did not breach the American defence. USA, ranked twenty fourth on the planet rankings, scored the solitary objective of the match by means of Abigail Tamer within the sixteenth minute of the Pool B match.

The defeat would make India’s street to Paris more durable as it will likely be up in opposition to stronger groups in subsequent matches.

There was hardly something to separate the 2 sides within the first quarter which witnessed a keenly-contested battle. Both groups managed a number of circle penetration however objectives eluded the 2 sides.

The Indians, nonetheless, have been responsible of not utilizing each the flanks in contrast to USA who construct their assaults from each corners.

India’s woes from penalty corners remained unchanged as they wasted as many as six set items. The Americans sounded the board within the eleventh minute by means of skipper Amanda Golini however the objective was disallowed for obstruction, a lot to the aid of the packed stadium.

Minutes from the primary quarter, the Indians bought an incredible probability to take the lead when Udita mixed properly with Neha to create the chance however the former’s effort was saved by American goalie Kelsey Bing.

The Indians, nonetheless, bought a impolite shock simply after restart as USA took the lead a minute into the second quarter by means of Tamer, who was additionally assisted by some poor defending by the house staff inside their D.

India’s persistent strain resulted in three penalty corners in fast succession however the Americans defended stoutly.

Minutes from half-time, India created two extra probabilities.

First Ishika Chaudhary’s tomahawk from a decent angle went inches broad of the American objective after which Navneet Kaur’s reverse hit from contained in the circle was brilliantly saved by an alert Bing in entrance of the bar.

The Indians did not study their lesson after the change of ends as they continued to construct their assaults by means of the center however the Americans crowd that space to disclaim their opponents any probability.

The India held on to the ball an excessive amount of with out releasing it immediately, a technique that value them dearly.

Whenever the Indians managed to get contained in the American circle, they lacked concepts.

India secured one other penalty nook 37 seconds from the third quarter however wasted the prospect.

The hosts bought one other probability after Monika requested for referral. The choice was bang on as India secured a penalty nook, which resulted in one other however their poor conversion charge continued as Navneet’s efforts have been simply saved away by USA goalie Bing.

To make issues worse for India, Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke was proven the yellow card — 5 minute suspension — for a tough sort out on an American participant within the early levels of the fourth quarter.

Trailing by a objective, the Indians attacked in numbers and secured their seventh penalty nook within the forty eighth minute. Navneet this time discovered the online however the objective was disallowed because the ball went in after ricochetting off Jyoti’s ft.

USA secured three consecutive penalty corners seven minutes from the hooter however wasted all.

Tamer’s objective finally turned out to be winner.

India will subsequent play New Zealand on Sunday, whereas USA will probably be up in opposition to Italy.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is revealed from a syndicated feed.)