Hockey World Cup 2023 / India beat Wales, but road to quarter-finals tough

Hockey World Cup 2023: The Indian hockey team faced Wales in their third match of Pool D. Prior to this match, the Indian team had faced Wales thrice and had won each time. India's biggest win against Wales was on 4 August 2022, in which they won 4–1. But this time the matter was different on the field of World Cup. They needed a big win against the underdog team Wales to secure a place in the quarterfinals. It didn't happen. This could not be possible due to poor coordination between the Indian strikers and forward players.

No goals scored in the first quarter

There was no goal in the 15-minute first quarter between India and Wales. During this, the players mostly moved the ball in the middle of the field. Because of this, there was no field goal chance, the Indian team could not even earn a penalty corner.

India's account opened in the second quarter

In the second quarter of the game, India got two back to back penalty corners. The first penalty corner in the 17th minute went in vain. After this, India got success in the second penalty corner in the 21st minute. Shamsher Singh, playing 50 international matches of his career, gave India a 1-0 lead by scoring a goal from the penalty corner on this occasion. By half time, India had 82 per cent ball possession while Wales had only 18 per cent.

The picture of the match changed in the third quarter

Indian midfielder Akashdeep Singh scored a spectacular field goal in the 32nd minute of the third quarter to give India a 2–0 lead over Wales. Right after this, the hosts got their third penalty corner of the match in the 32nd minute itself but could not convert it into a goal. Although three more penalty corners were awarded after this, the Indian players missed every opportunity. From here this entire quarter remained in the name of Wales. He got three penalty corners, of which he succeeded in two and brought the match to a 2-2 draw.

India won in the fourth quarter

As soon as the fourth quarter started, the Indian players started moving on the field with lightning speed. Soon after the start of the game, Akashdeep scored his second goal of the match in the 45th minute to put India ahead 3-2.

India won 4-2 in a closely contested match, needing to win by at least seven goals to make the quarter-finals. Now he will have to face New Zealand to get a quarterfinal ticket.