Buenos Aires, April 12: The Indian men’s hockey team registered a comprehensive 3-0 win over reigning Olympic champions Argentina in the second match of the FIH Pro League here to jump to 4th in the points table.
Goals from Harmanpreet Singh (11th minute), Lalit Upadhyay (25th) and Mandeep Singh (58th) on Sunday gave the visitors a deserved triumph over Los Leones, adding three more points to the two they had claimed against the hosts in Saturday’s shoot-out, which earned them a bonus point.
India, with 15 points from eight games, climbed up to fourth place in the FIH Hockey Pro League standings, moving one point ahead of Australia having played the same number of games.
Argentina sit sixth in the standings, with 11 points from 12 games.
India, Argentina and Australia will play against each other at the forthcoming Olympic Games, where they have been drawn in Pool A alongside Spain, New Zealand and home favourites Japan.
Harmanpreet converted India’s first penalty corner of the game in the 11th minute. Lalit doubled India’s lead when he showed lightning quick reactions in the second quarter, pouncing on a save from Argentina custodian Juan Vivaldi to slot home. Two minutes from the final hooter, Mandeep fired home from close range to guide a backhand effort into the net.
India will next travel to Great Britain for the two-leg tie on May 8 and 9. (PTI)
