Women's Hockey World Cup | Ireland claim 1-0 victory to put India's quarter-final place in danger

SportsCafe Desk

BySportsCafe Desk, SportsCafe Editor

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India is on the verge of missing out the quarter-final berth in Women's Hockey World Cup as Ireland stunned India with a 1-0 victory in a group league match on Thursday. Ireland's Anna O’Flanagan efficiently converted a penalty corner in the 13th minute to acquire the solo score of the match.

India will be dangling over the edge in terms of their quarter-final berth as Ireland overwhelm India 1-0 on Thursday. Ireland, with a stunning performance, had surprised World no. 7 USA in the opener 3-1. Ireland had also defeated India in the last match they played in the Women's Hockey World League semifinals in Johannesburg last year. Currently, the leaderboard displays Ireland at the top with six points. Following Ireland, is England with two points. India and USA have one point each.

Though India, with their World no. 10 ranking, stand six places above Ireland, they couldn't establish any sort of dominance over their opponent throughout the match. Rani Rampal’s team was found to lack energy and vision and due to the high temperature and humidity factor, the Indian team were found napping numerous times.

Despite having earned as many as seven penalty corners in the match, India remained incapable of converting even one successfully. Ireland, on the other hand, had earned a total of three penalty corners, but it effectively converted one of them in the 13th minute (Anna O’Flanagan) to score the only goal in the match.

In the second quarter of the match, Lilima Minz was successful in getting an open ball inside the box. However, the shot lacked in strength which allowed the Ireland goalkeeper to easily salvage that point. The Indian forwards' attack were feeble and weak. Ireland, however, missed the chance to score again in the final quarter as Nicola Evans failed to deflect in Kathryn Mullan’s cross from the right flank towards the goal.

India were able to earn the seventh penalty corner in the 54th minute but was unable to convert it. Even Rani Rampal could not break past Ireland's defences with Irish goalkeeper's impeccable accuracy to defend the goals. India will have to encounter USA on July 29 and if claim a win, they can progress to knockout stages.

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