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India fell at the final hurdle in its bid to reach the FIH World Cup semifinals, losing 5-3 to Pan American champion Argentina in its final second-round match.
India needed to defeat Argentina by at least four goals to advance but instead finished at the bottom of the standings without a point from three matches. The team will now compete in the seventh-place playoff.
The victory secured Argentina a place in the semifinals alongside host Netherlands. England was scheduled to face the Netherlands in the final second-round match and needed to win by at least two goals to advance.
Before the Netherlands-England match, the host led the standings with six points from two games. Argentina also had six points from three matches, while England was third with three points from two games.
Argentina made a flying start, taking the lead less than a minute into the contest. Joaquin Toscani capitalized on Jarmanpreet Singh’s failure to intercept a ball traveling across the Indian goalmouth and fired it into the net.
The early goal was a major setback for India, which entered the match needing a convincing victory.
Argentina maintained the pressure and earned its first penalty corner following a rough tackle by Jarmanpreet in the third minute. From its second penalty corner in the sixth minute, Nicolas della Torre converted to give Argentina a 2-0 lead.
The strong start reinforced Argentina’s dominance over India after its 4-2 and 8-0 victories in the FIH Pro League in Rourkela in February.
Sukhjeet Singh gave India some relief with a well-taken goal in the 10th minute, reducing the deficit to 2-1 by the end of the opening quarter.
Della Torre restored Argentina’s two-goal advantage in the 33rd minute. After receiving an unmarked ball in the center of the circle, he unleashed a powerful reverse-stick shot to make it 3-1.
India earned its first penalty corner in the 34th minute and subsequently won four consecutive penalty corners. Harmanpreet Singh’s attempt from one of those opportunities was deflected high by an Argentine defender.
India received its fifth penalty corner in the 40th minute, but Harmanpreet’s powerful drag flick struck Sukhjeet. India sought a video referral, but the appeal was rejected.
Argentina earned a penalty stroke following a swift counterattack in the 45th minute. Tomas Domene converted the opportunity to extend the lead to 4-1.
Another defensive error proved costly for India in the 53rd minute. Lucas Toscani collected a poorly cleared ball and scored with a powerful reverse-stick shot along the ground, giving Argentina a commanding 5-1 advantage.
India failed to capitalize on its sixth penalty corner in the 56th minute, including the resulting rebound. Sukhjeet then scored an opportunistic goal in the 58th minute to reduce Argentina’s lead to 5-2.
India was awarded a penalty stroke after Sukhjeet was brought down inside the circle. Hardik Singh converted to make it 5-3.
India forced another penalty corner in the final minute, but Argentina blocked and cleared the high flick to complete the victory and end India’s semifinal hopes.
