Hockey WC: Spain shatters India’s QF hope

Terrassa (Spain), July 11 (UNI) India women lost 0-1 to hosts Spain in the must-win crossover match and failed to progress to the quarterfinals of the FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup. It was Marta Segu (57’) who scored the lone goal of the match on Sunday. The crossover matches were played between the second and third-placed teams from the groups for a place in the quarters. The toppers of each group qualified directly for the last eight. India had finished third in their group. India is yet to win a match in the ongoing Women’s FIH Hockey World Cup. In their pool matches, India drew two and lost one of their three games. Spain will face Australia in the quarterfinals while India will play Canada on Tuesday in the 9th to 16th place classification match. The opening quarter was tightly contested as would be expected from a match with so much at stake. The opening few minutes showed India’s intent as they pushed forwards but the Spanish defense held strong and took much of the sting out of the attack. From then on it was all about Spain as they explored ways to get past the India back line. In goal for India, Savita Punia showed why she has such an international reputation as she was called into action time and again. Despite the pressure, the score remained at 0-0.
Spain continued to pile on the pressure and in a moment of goalkeeping brilliance, Savita made three consecutive saves, first from a Xantal Gine penalty corner strike, then a rebound from the same player, and finally a rebound from Begona Garcia.
Seconds later, India had their own penalty corner but first Melanie Garcia saved Monika’s shot, and then Lucia Jimenez showed immense composure to bat the rebound away.
India created a wonderful opportunity to open the scoring when Salima Tete took the ball along the baseline and slipped it back to Vandana Katariya. Her shot was dinked over the crossbar as she went to chip it over Garcia’s reach. The second half started with India on the front foot and Spain had to stay focused to keep the Indian attacks at bay. Momentum shifted back and forth during the third quarter but both teams were looking increasingly frantic and mistakes were creeping into play.
It was becoming increasingly clear that this was a match where just one goal could end up separating the teams. The question for both teams was how to find a way into their opponent’s net. Both teams created early opportunities in the fourth quarter. First Sara Barrios was unmarked in front of Savita but shot wide, a lovely flowing move by India was cut out before they could find the telling shot, then Jimenez tried to juggle her way through the India defense only to meet the impenetrable wall that is Savita.
Spain’s Georgina Oliva danced through the defense and shot over the bar, Monika began to make great runs to trouble the Spanish defense. The breakthrough goal came from Segu and was as exciting and frenetic as the entire game had been. Segu received a long ball from Begona Garcia. She, in turn, passed to Clara Ycart. She shot and Savita saved, but she was following up and pounced to slap the ball home to give her team an invaluable lead with three minutes left.
Spain didn’t make the final minutes easy for themselves. Garcia received a yellow card, then Segu received a green so Spain was down to nine players for the remainder of the match.