IND 2-1 ARG, FIH Pro League Highlights: Akashdeep, Sukhjeet score in India’s win over Argentina

1. IND – 30 points in 16 matches

2. GBR – 25 points in 12 matches

3. AUS – 19 points in 13 matches

4. ESP – 17 points in 8 matches

5. ARG – 13 points in 14 matches

India ends its FIH Pro League European campaign on high with a 2-1 win over Argentina. Craig Fulton’s men have been tremendous in defence in a three-goal thriller. India extends its lead in the points table over Great Britain with this win.

Argentina loses its referral for a penalty corner as it is as good as done for the fifth-ranked team.

Absolute madness in India’s defence right now. Argentina looks dangerous in the clutch moments of the game. Argentina with constant high press puts India under huge pressure with less than 30 seconds to the clock.

GOALLLLL! Argentina injects the ball, Nicholas with a cheeky pass to Lucas Toscani who flicks it past Sreejesh on his left to put Argentina in the scoresheet with two-and-half minutes on the clock!

The referee stops the game for a potential danger play by India. Amit Rohidas is clearly seen to use his stick a bit too high and India loses its referral as Argentina gets another lifeline in the form of PC!

Argentina wins a crucial penalty corner with a bit more than three minutes on the clock. Nicholas Della Torre takes the flick but Sreejesh saves it.

India is slowing down the pace of the game as we move to the last five minutes of the game. Vivek deceives Argentina’s midfield with a lovely move to breach past them and make a circle entry, a bad pass, but gives the possession to Argentina.

Dilpreet Singh finds himself down on the ground with some stick-shielding action, however, the referee signals, play-on.

Argentina wins a long corner but gives the possession back. India too loses the ball in transition.

A solid tactical play by India in defence as Argentina is struggling to breach the defence even with constant possession in this quarter.

Jarmanpreet and Mandeep Singh keep the ball in their own half as India tries to make a run but Argentina has marked all the attacking players this time.

Hardik Singh gets the ball in transition after good defensive work, India, however, fails to keep the possession quickly afterwards.

Some neat work in the defence lets India enjoy its 2-goal lead with less than 12 minutes on the clock.

Argentina keeps the tempo high in the midfield and keeps the possession in the final-15.

Both India and Argentina failed to convert at least one clear chance in the third quarter but it will be the men in blue who will be the happier team as their lead stays the same as we move ahead to the last quarter.

Argentina on the attack but the defence does not let Mazzilli to take his shot.

India is now on the counter-attack and Mandeep gets the ball inside the circle and passes back to Raj Kumar who fails to keep his shot on the target as India failed to triple its lead.

Argentina making the most of this high press as Agustin Mazzilli tries a tomahawk which finds the top left corner of the goalpost but a full-length jump from goalkeeper Pathak saves this time.

Vivek receives the ball from right channel and he dribbles the ball further and passes to Mandeep Singh who falters and eventually fails to control the ball inside circle.

Much-better composure for Argentina they are faltering in transitional gameplay where India is taking advantage of the possession.

Argentina constantly holds the ball possession but fails to make it count as India has been solid in defence today.

India and Argentina both slowed down the tempo as India dropped from pressing high to committing numbers in midfield and defence.

Gurjant Singh’s heavy tackle concedes India’s first penalty corner. Nicholas Della Torre takes the flick but Amit Rohidas runs down the line of the shot and makes sure to save this one, another PC for Argentina as the ball touch Rohitdas below the knee. Nicholas with another drag flick, this time Jarmanpreet Singh saves to make sure Sreejesh carries a clean sheet.

Argentina gets the ball initially but Akashdeep backed by the Indian defence gets the possession back.

Welcome back to the second half of FIH Hockey Pro League match between India and Argentina.

We played well, defended well. Unfortunately could not score 1-2 more goals. Keep defending well, we’ll get our chances.

India scored two goals in the first quarter to keep Argentina’s defence in check. Akashdeep Singh opened the account in the second minute which was followed by Sukhjeet Singh in the 14th minute. Argentina has created chances in between but a cautious defence keeps India away from any danger.

Argentina tries to attack from the left flank and hits one shot inside the circle but Amit Rohitdas supported by wall P R Sreejesh in the back save the ball with a wonderful stick play.

India successfully stops another forward run as Argentina looked slow in press and Karthi Selva quickly runs away with the ball and Argentina’s defence is struggling to match up his dribbling pace. Karthi passes to Sukhjeet who fails to hold the ball.

Mandeep Singh intercepts the ball in defence and India goes for an attack. Harmanpreet Singh looks for Akash inside the circle but loses possession to Argentina.

A poor shot from India in the midfield to give the possession on the sidelines. Argentina on a potentially dangerous forward press.

Argentina makes a circle entry but good defending from India stops yet another attack.

Tomas Demene receives the ball from midfield and passes it to the central channel to win a penalty corner. First PC of the game but India takes its first referral, asking for a back stick shot and wins it as the decision has been overturned in the favour of India.

Karthi Selvam with a lovely run from the left flank and passes across to Akashdeep who attempts a quick shot but fails to put it on target. Nicholas Torredella gets a green card – two minutes suspension for foul play.

Abhishek with another run but Santiago with his defensive duties takes the ball possession.

Hardik wins the ball in rebound, back passes it to Amit Rohitdas, who went aerial as India fails to make circle entry this time eventually.

Back-to-back circle entries for India as they are pressing high, utilising the small pockets to put Argentina under constant pressure.

Abhishek dribbles his way up to the penalty area but this time Tomas clears with ease.

India holds the ball but Argentina wins it, however, fails to deliver anything as we come to the end of the first quarter.

GOALLLLLL! Sukhjeet Singh puts his name in the scoresheet. Akashdeep holds the ball and back passes it to Vivek, who passes further beating the line of defence to Sukhjeet Singh and he did enough to beat the goalkeeper Santiago Tomas to double the lead for India. What a lovely passage of play here for the men in blue.

Captain Hardik Singh exploits the last line of defence but loses the ball while looking for a pass inside D.

Nicholas Keenan with a quick run from the left channel but a loud shout of a stick from the referee stops his dangerous-looking run.

Abhishek charges down the penalty area and shows great skill to retain the ball with him but this time he has been intercepted by the defence.

Argentina keeps the possession after India fails to press high, India now commits a number in defence as we come close to the end of the first quarter.

Santiago Tarazona passes to Acosta to try to hit down the channel but a foul from him gives the possession to India.

India tries to enter from the right flank using the tight space and possibly make another attack but this time Argentina’s defence was quick enough to negate any dangerous play.

Karthi Selvam fouls on Argentina’s defender, possession remains with Argentina.

Argentina straight away goes for a counter-attack but a timely interception from India’s defence takes the possession back from Argentina.

GOALLLLL! Akashdeep puts India in the lead in less than two minutes. Unmarked Akash waited for the ball inside the circle and converts a solid pass from the right flank.

India gets the ball possession as we are underway in Eindhoven.

We are moments away from the start of the match and it is time for the National anthems of both countries.

• Goalkeepers: Krishan Bahadur Pathak, PR Sreejesh
• Defenders: Harmanpreet Singh (C), Amit Rohidas, Jarmanpreet Singh, Manpreet Singh, Sumit, Sanjay, Mandeep Mor, Gurinder Singh
• Midfielders: Hardik Singh (VC), Dilpreet Singh, Moirangthem Rabichandra Singh, Shamsher Singh, Akashdeep Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad
• Forwards: Abhishek, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, S Karthi, Gurjant Singh, Sukhjeet Singh, Raj Kumar Pal, Mandeep Singh, Simranjeet Singh

India defeated Argentina 3-0 in the last head-to-head on June 8, 2023.

Matches: 58 | IND: 32 wins | ARG: 20 wins | Draws: 6

1. IND – 27 points

2. GBR – 25 points

3. AUS – 19 points

4. ESP – 17 points

5. ARG – 13 points

The FIH Pro League match between Argentina and India can be streamed live on the FanCode app/website on a subscription basis.

India will take on Argentina in the second European leg of the FIH Pro League on Sunday in Eindhoven, Netherlands.

The Harmanpreet Singh-led India, earlier consolidated their position at the top of league standings with a commanding 3-0 win over the same team but a close 2-3 loss against the Netherlands in the last game saw the men in blue dropping some crucial points.