Rourkela, Feb 18: A day after upsetting world No.3 Australia, India women once again played an entertaining and fast-paced brand of hockey to defeat the United States 2-1 via shootout in an FIH Pro League match here on Sunday.
The regulation period ended in a 1-1 stalemate with India scoring in the 19th minute through young drag-flicker Deepika Kumari and the USA equalising through Ashley Seesa in the 45th minute.
Mumtaz Khan and Sonika were on target in the shootout, while Leah Crouse scored for the losing team.
Despite the win, the Indian chief coach, Janneke Schopman, would be unhappy with the way the Savita Punia-led side dominated for most part and still could not win the contest in regulation time despite earning several penalty corners.
The win on Sunday came after India had thrashed the USA 3-1 in the Bhubaneswar leg of the Pro League.
The victory would have soothed the nerves of the 20,000-odd crowd at the stadium, who saw US women’s team score the equaliser in the dying minutes of the third quarter.
Indian women’s team completed their FIH Pro League engagements at home with five defeats and three wins – twice against the USA and once against Australia.
Having defeated Australia on Saturday at the same venue, the Indians definitely had spring in their steps but they displayed the tendency to hang on to the ball for far too long and their penalty corner conversion remained abysmal. (PTI)
