Skipper Harmanpreet Singh slammed a brace because the Indian males’s hockey staff outplayed Spain 4-1 in a FIH Pro League match in Bhubaneswar on Saturday. Harmanpreet transformed a penalty nook within the seventh minute earlier than scoring from the spot within the twentieth minute. Jugraj Singh additionally transformed a penalty nook within the twenty fourth minute whereas Lalit Kumar Upadhyay scored a subject objective within the fiftieth minute to register the straightforward win for India. Spain’s lone objective got here from a penalty-stroke conversion by Marc Miralles within the thirty fourth minute.

The match additionally marked veteran midfielder and former captain Manpreet Singh’s 350th worldwide recreation after he made his India debut in 2011.

Spain began on a constructive be aware, having fun with ball possession within the first 5 minutes however didn’t create any clear-cut probability.

Soon Hardik Singh earned India’s first penalty nook and in his 199th match, Harmanpreet scored his a hundred and fiftieth penalty-corner objective.

It was an ideal penalty nook, robust and low, which beat Spain goalkeeper Luis Calzado all finally ends up.

The residence staff was stable in defence within the first quarter because it did not let Spain hit the goal regardless of having fun with possession.

At the beginning of the second quarter, Spain secured a penalty nook however veteran India custodian PR Sreejesh caught his left foot out to disclaim the guests.

India then secured back-to-back penalty corners and from the second probability, the hosts have been awarded a penalty stroke for unlawful clearance of the ball.

Harmanpreet stepped up and transformed the prospect to place India 2-0 up and register his 171st objective for the nation.

India secured two extra penalty corners within the second quarter, and after lacking from the primary probability, Jugraj transformed the following with a strong grounded flick by the legs of the Spanish goalkeeper.

Spain then secured a penalty nook in opposition to the run of play however Sreejesh made a double save to disclaim the opponents.

Four minutes after the change of ends, Spain lowered the margin by Miralles, who scored from the spot following a foul deal with by Gurjant Singh contained in the circle.

India earned one other penalty nook within the third quarter however Jugraj was off-target.

Five minutes into the ultimate quarter, Lalit discovered himself on the proper place, on the proper time to attain a surprising subject objective with a strong tomahawk.

The Indians then held on to the three-goal benefit with some stable defending to register the convincing win.

India will tackle Netherlands of their subsequent match in Bhubaneswar on Sunday.

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