Hockey World Cup, as it happened: Ireland upset India 1-0 to book quarter-final berth

The goal that won the match for Ireland against India:-

FINAL HOOTER! Anna O’Flanagan’s solitary penalty corner conversion has put Ireland in the World Cup quarter-final. Screams, smiles and tears of joy all around. The Green Machine are ecstatic having pulled off this epic win against a team that are six places higher. They are the first team to book a quarter-final berth. And, to think this is their first World Cup in 16 years. India didn’t step up to the challenge today, it wasn’t their best match but great game by Ireland to get a well-deserved win.

Final quarter (2 minutes to go), India 0-1 Ireland: Almost over for India. Ireland closing in on a famous win.

Final quarter (4 minutes to go), India 0-1 Ireland: Close. So, so close. And, this time, it was the captain Rani Rampal herself who missed a chance to equalise. She either didn’t see Udita on her left or decided to go for goal herself. A good hit and a good save by Ireland goalkeeper. But a pass to Udita would have stood a better chance of getting the equaliser for India.

Final quarter (6 minutes to go), India 0-1 Ireland: PENALTY CORNER! Gurjit... No, wait, surprise, surprise, Deep Ekka takes the penalty corner to surprise the opposition. But the tactic doesn’t yield in a goal. Oh, wait, India have taken off goalkeeper Savita to have an extra attacking option.

Final quarter (6 minutes to go), India 0-1 Ireland: Ooh, Ireland almost double their lead. Nicola Evans just had to tap the ball in from front of the goalmouth. But she misses it completely. India still have a chance to at least save this match.

Final quarter (11 minutes to go), India 0-1 Ireland: Another half-chance for India. Lalremsiami fails to get hold of the ball. The Ireland defence are being constantly tested in this final quarter but they have stepped up to the challenge.

End of third quarter, India 0-1 Ireland: Alright, India need to step up quickly. They have 15 more minutes to save themselves from being in a precarious position. But the Irish team have been steadfast in their defence. Can the women in blue break the Irish resolve in the final quarter?

Third quarter (2 minutes to go), India 0-1 Ireland: Another penalty corner, can India convert this time?

No they don’t. Rani did well to tap and make a short-arm blow. But the Irish defender read it well and keeps it away. The ball lobs and falls in front of Deepika. But her attempt is deflected by the keeper.

Third quarter (3 minutes to go), India 0-1 Ireland: Not a lot of movement by India. It’s a hot and humid day. And, it seems to have hampered India’s movement. Maybe that’s given the Irish the advantage. India still seeking the equaliser.

Third quarter (5 minutes to go), India 0-1 Ireland: Another penalty corner for India! Within two minutes. Gurjit, again, with the flick again. But the Irish defender deflects the ball above her net. India’s desperate search for an equaliser continue (And the time’s running out too!)

Third quarter (7 minutes to go), India 0-1 Ireland: India earn another peanalty corner opportunity! Lilima with the injection. Wasn’t the greatest of traps. But Gurjit flicks it superbly but the Irish keeper puts in a dive to save it. Ireland hold on to their lead.

Third quarter (12 minutes to go), India 0-1 Ireland: Kathryn Mullan gets a green card. India tries to take advantage of the situation, penetrate the Irish circle. But the defenders are up to the task again. They deny another chance for India.

“Stay calm,” replies Indian coach Sjoerd Marijne when asked about India’s plan for the second half. “Dont hit every ball in the circle as if there is only two more minutes left in the match. And, hopefully the weather (still hot and humid) will get better. Looking forward to have more energy from the team in the second half.”

HALF-TIME: After a sluggish start, India have slowly and steadily stepped up in the second quarter and created more chances. But Ireland are ahead thanks to their early conversion of penalty corner. They held off a desperate Indian attack in the dying minutes of the second quarter and will be pleased with their defence. “We knew, coming into this game that our defence has to be rock solid. It was that way in the first half and I hope it continues to be that way in the second half as well,” says Ireland’s goal scorer Anna O’Flanagan.

Second quarter (3 minutes to go), India 0-1 Ireland: India pack the frontline with five players, they have eight shots on goal now to Ireland’s five. In the last 10 minutes or so, they have been pressing harder but the goal’s still elusive.

Second quarter (4 minutes to go), India 0-1 Ireland: Reena Khokhar makes a good injection. Gurjit Kaur hits to the right of the ‘keeper and the ball beats the Irish keeper but Hannah Matthews does remarkably well to keep the ball away.

Second quarter (5 minutes to go), India 0-1 Ireland: Rani, hounded by the Irish defenders, plays a good reverse-flick to pass the ball to Lalremsiami. The latter doesn’t get to the ball. But India get a penalty corner.

Second quarter (8 minutes to go), India 0-1 Ireland: Gurjit Kaur takes a freehit from just below the half-line. She sends a throughball to Lalremsiami but the latter misses it and the ball goes away. No real threat created by India.

Second quarter (11 minutes to go), India 0-1 Ireland: Another penalty corner for Ireland. But this time India do well to save it. But Ireland have been in control of the game since they scored.

Second quarter (12 minutes to go), India 0-1 Ireland: Vandana Katariya flicks the ball in the air from the corner of the circle and the Ireland ‘keeper leaps and extends her stick to deflect the ball away and almost drags it in the top corner of the net. Oooh, that was an anxious moment for Ireland.

End of first quarter, India 0-1 Ireland: Coach Sjoerd Marijne involved in an animated chat with his players. Ireland have pulled away and scored the first goal to get themselves to a good position. They beat the higher-ranked USA in the last match. Despite ranked lower than India, the Irish women can’t be taken lightly. India need to equalise and do it soon.

First quarter (1minutes to go), India 0-1 Ireland: Another penalty corner for India but they miss. It’s almost time for the first quarter to end.

First quarter (3 minutes to go), India 0-1 Ireland: GOAL! Anna O’Flanagan puts Ireland ahead. It was off a brilliant deflection off a penalty corner. Shirley McCay struck it. And Anna worked with the limited space she had in the Indian defence. All it needed was one touch. Well deserved goal for Ireland.

First quarter (5 minutes to go), India 0-0 Ireland: An India free hit, an Ireland over head pass. Both teams are stealing the balls from each other. But haven’t come close to scoring in a long time. 50-50 possession.

First quarter (7 minutes to go), India 0-0 Ireland: Ireland playing quite a few long balls, they have most of the possession now. So far two shots on goal, one each by Ireland and India.

First quarter (10 minutes to go), India 0-0 Ireland: Indians have the ball. Bit of a dangerous move by them. They come close to the Irish net. But the goalkeeper kicks the ball away. Still 0-0 here.

First quarter (12 minutes to go), India 0-0 Ireland: India win their first penalty corner of the match, of the competition. Lilima with the injection, Gurjit takes it. But well defended by the Irish defenders.

06:25 pm We are just a few minutes away from the start. It’s a hot, humid day at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre. What is going to be India’s strategy?

India starting XI:-

06:15 pm Hello and welcome to the live coverage of India’s second match in the Hockey World Cup. The 1-1 draw against England evoked mixed response. As the higher ranked team and the hosts, England are considered one of the favourites to win the tournament. Hence, the draw, definitely, wasn’t a bad result. But it was a match that India could have won had they pressed harder. The team had a break of five days and would be aiming to get their first victory in the tournament.