Rupinderpal helps India salvage draw

Rupinderpal Singh struck two goals, including the equaliser four minutes from the end to help India salvage a 4-4 draw against lower-ranked Ireland in Pool B in the men’s competition of the FIH world league round 3 on Thursday.

Updated on: Jun 13, 2013, 23:57:48 IST

Agencies | By Anonymous, Rotterdam

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Rupinderpal Singh struck two goals, including the equaliser four minutes from the end to help India salvage a 4-4 draw against lower-ranked Ireland in Pool B in the men’s competition of the FIH world league round 3 on Thursday.

Rupinderpal (40th, 66th minute) converted penalty corners in the second half help India rally after Akashdeep Singh (21st) and Shivendra Singh (47th) scored.

Ireland, ranked 15th to India's 11th, rallied from a goal down to go 2-1 and then led 4-3 with six minutes left in the absorbing game. For Ireland, Alan Sothern (25th), Paul Gleghorne (30th), Andrew McConnell (64th) scored field goals while Conor Harte converted a penalty corner (57th).

The defensive line has been their perennial problem and the area once again came to hound India against the Irish, who were impressive and threatening throughout. There was a lack of co-ordination between the mid-field and forwards and India were also guilty of squandering possession.

Akashdeep gave the lead with a hit from the top of the circle, but India had to fight hard to salvage the draw. Towards the end, goalkeeper PR Sreejesh had to be stretched off following an injury.

Women blanked

India women fared worse after they were thrashed 0-7 by world no 3 New Zealand in their opening Pool B match. The Black Sticks had no problem against 12th-ranked India.

India looked impressive in the initial few minutes of the game but lost their way as the game progressed. Charlotte Harrison struck in the eighth minute and India added to their trouble soon after by conceding an own goal. Katie Glynn (26th minute) and Sian Fremaux (31st) too scored to make it 4-0 at halftime.

Harrison (52nd), Glynn (69th) and Krystal Forgesson (53rd) scored in the second half. India face 13th-ranked Belgium on Friday.

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