CWG 2022: Indian women's hockey team reaches semifinal after 3-2 win over Canada
Aug 03, 2022
Birmingham [UK], August 3 : The Indian Women's Hockey Team booked their place in the semifinal after defeating Canada 3-2 in a high-octane match on Wednesday.
Salima Tete (3'), Navneet Kaur (22') and Lalremsiami (51') found the back of the net for India and Brienne Stairs (23') and Hannah Haughn (39') scored for Canada. The Indian team's opponent in the Semi-Final will be decided after the final Pool A match between England and Wales on Thursday. However, India has confirmed a top-two finish in their Pool.
The Indian team got off to an aggressive start and earned a Penalty Corner in the third minute of the match. Navneet Kaur produced a fantastic ball from the left flank and Salima Tete tapped the ball into the goal to help India take a 1-0 lead in the match. Vandana Katariya made a great run through the left flank, but she could not find a way to extend India's lead. The Indian Women's Hockey Team continued to put pressure on their opponents and went into the first break with the lead in their hands.
India rode on the momentum and held most of the ball possession at the start of the second half. In the 22nd minute, Lalremsiami carried out a spectacular pass from the right flank to Navneet, who struck the ball into the goal to help India extend their lead at 2-0. However, soon after, Brienne Stairs converted a Penalty Corner in the 23rd minute to keep Canada in the game. The Canadian team made a few inroads into the Indian circle and Madeline Secco took a shot in the 29th minute, but the ball went wide off the right post.
Lalremsiami tried to find a way to penetrate the circle from the right flank in the third quarter. However, the Canadian defence stood tall and kept her at bay. In the 39th minute, Canada earned a Penalty Corner and Hannah Haughn found the back of the net to equalize the score at 2-2. The Canadian team won back-to-back Penalty Corners in the last minute of the third quarter, but the Indian defence unit ensured that the 2-2 deadlock was not broken.
The Indians got very close to the goal in the opening minutes of the final quarter, but the Canadian defence unit kept the ball away from the goal. However, Lalremsiami converted a Penalty Corner in the 51st minute as India took the lead at 3-2. Vandana Katariya carried out a spectacular run in the 57th minute, but she could not find the back of the net. The Indian team continued to put pressure on their opponents and eventually walked off the field as winners.
