Spain confirmed their supremacy over India with a 3-1 victory to grab the bronze medal in the 2023 FIH Men’s Junior World Cup at the Bukit Jalil stadium in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday.
The result fetched the Spaniards their second third-place finish in history and their second success in this campaign against two-time champions India whom they had humbled 4-1 in the pool stage.
“This is our best match here” said excited coach Oriol Puig Torras.
After a downpour delayed the match by an hour, India held a marginal edge in the first quarter with three PCs forced and two deep circle penetrations.
Two green cards simultaneously earned didn’t appear to cause the Indians a loss of momentum.
Spain forced their first of five PCs in the 18th minute, followed by two re-awards but the teams appeared cagey, measured and tenacious.
Breaking & Exclusive:
Indian skipper Uttam Singh reflects back on today’s defeat and the entire campaign. Says the team did well but Spain were better.@indianhockey reports.@TheHockeyIndia @FIH_Hockey @ThumsUpOfficial #hockeyindia #RisingStars #FIHJuniorHockeyWorldCup pic.twitter.com/0J4UUcyBmV
— RevSportz (@RevSportz) December 16, 2023
It all changed in the 25th minute when a switch from the right found Nicolas Alvares speeding down the left flank, beating Lakra for pace and dispatching a backhander that took goalkeeper Mohith’s left glove on its way to the far left corner of the goal.
Spain appeared to gain ascendancy but PC No. 4 and 5 followed for India as the match came alive.Off the fifth, Sunil Jojo followed up after Araijeet drew star goalkeeper Jan Cappellades to a save, the ball trickling through to the boards to restore parity in the 28th minute.
India threw away their referral at the outset of the second half and Spain almost rubbed it in soon later but Mohith denied the enterprising Petchame Pau with a double save after the impressive Bruno Font created havoc with a ball from the 23metre line.
Chances fell to India — Sudeep missing a ball across the circle and Sukhvinder coming second best to Capellades at the right post.
But it was Spain who struck in the 40th minute, thanks to man-of-the -match Petchame who deservingly scored after a free hit on the edge of the circle.Spain did much to seal the bronze medal with a quality goal by Alvarez, his second of the match. In the 51st minute, he deflected in a pass by Pol Cabre Verdiell who ran the length of the left flank.
India’s bid to comeback created wave after wave of attacks and a PC count that reached nine but it was Spain who looked more likely to score on the counter as time ticked away.
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