Women's Hockey World Cup | Ireland end India's campaign in penalty shootout
India bowed out of the Women's World Cup against Ireland in a penalty shootout that ended 3-1 in favour of the Europeans. Both teams failed to score a goal in regulation time and only India's Reena Khokhar was able to score in the shootout as India return home empty handed again.
The quarter-finals in London on Thursday proved to be a huge loss for India as it was overwhelmed by Ireland by 3-1 with the result being decided by a penalty shootout. Throughout the match, both the teams were unsuccessful in scoring a single goal against the opponents but it wasn't from the lack of trying. When it eventually came down to the shootout it was Irish goalkeeper Ayeisha McFerran, who secured her team's spot in the semifinals.
Roisin Upton, Alison Meeke, and Chloe Watkins scored for while only Reena Khokhar was able to put the ball past McFerran with Rani Rampal, Monika, and Navjot Kaur all failing to convert.
During the game, Ireland was on the verge of scoring in the 23rd minute but Savita stood tall to the danger and deflected the centre-in from the right pocket. A pass from Rani to Udita went waste, while Rani failed to convert a penalty corner in the 49th minute and Ireland was once again saved by McFerran.
This would be India's first top eight finish in the World Cup post 1978. However, coach Sjoerd Marijne was hopeful of establishing a win over Ireland to earn themselves a semifinal round. In 1974, Indian squad had occupied the fourth position in the Hockey World Cup, while finishing seventh in 1978.
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