Nations Cup Hockey Highlights: Indian custodian Savita Punia showcased her class when it mattered the most. The Indian goalkeeper was ice-cool in the Penalty shootout as she made crucial saves to help India get over the line in a nail-biting semifinal against Ireland. India won 2-1 in the shootout after the scores were level 1-1 by the end of full-time. With the victory, the Women in Blue will face Spain in the final of the Nations Cup on Sunday, 18th December 2022. Follow Nations Cup Hockey 2022 LIVE updates on InsideSport.IN
Nations Cup Hockey Highlights: India defeat Ireland in shoot-out to enter final of Nations Cup 2022 – Watch Highlights
The engrossing match saw both the teams finish the full time with the scores at 1-1. In the ensuing penalty shoot out, Siami found the net to help India take 1-0 lead. Savita meanwhile conceded two strokes but managed to save one as both the teams were level 1-1 after three attempts.
Sonika then found the net in the next opportunity for India. Under-pressure, Savita put in a brilliant save to help India maintain their 2-1 lead. India’s Neha missed the next opportunity for India. It was now all down to Ireland’s Mullan. She had to score to level the scores in the shootout. However the Irish missed it as with that India won the game.
In an absorping first quarter, India maintained a good possession. Ireland however were constantly troubling India and piled up the pressure. India soon got a penalty corner opportunity. Navneet however squanders it by hitting wide. With less than a minute to go for the first quarter to end, Ireland’s Naomi Carroll stormed past the defenders and hit a powerful shot that went into the net as she gave 1-0 lead to Ireland.
In the second quarter, India got three penalty corner opportunities but they failed to convert any of the chances. Towards the end of the quarter, they faced a big threat as against the run of play, Ireland ran away with a defensive lapse from India and managed to score another goals. However India took a successful referral and the goal was not awarded to the Irish as it was hit from the back of the stick.
India ended the first half with a 0-1 trail. In the third quarter too India continued to squander their penalty corner opportunities. But finally it was Udita who finally converted an opportunity to help India level the scores 1-1. India maintained their possession in the fourth quarter as well but couldn’t get the lead as the game went into the shootout.
Nations Cup Hockey Highlights: India defeat Ireland in shoot-out to enter final of Nations Cup 2022 – Watch Highlights
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