Sultan of Johor Cup: India junior men’s hockey team go down 4-5 against South Africa

Sharda
Nand
Tiwari
(9′,
10′),
Captain
Uttam
Singh
(17′)
and
Sudeep
Chirmako
(45′)
scored
for
India
while
Marvin
Simons
(7′),
Fawaaz
Kahder
(34′),
Senzwesihle
Ngubane
(35′)
and
Cameron
Le
Forestier
(49′,
57′)
found
the
back
of
the
net
for
South
Africa.

It
was
India
with
the
first
pushback
of
the
game
and
Amandeep
Lakra
set
the
tone
of
the
high
press
from
the
get-go,
keeping
South
Africa
in
their
half
in
the
first
few
minutes.
However,
it
was
South
Africa
in
fact
who
took
the
lead
with
Marvin
Simons
(7′)
deflecting
in
past
Ankit
Malik.

India
though
roared
back
into
the
game
within
minutes
as
Sharda
Nand
Tiwari
(9′,
10′)
converted
two
penalty
corners.
India
ended
the
first
quarter
with
a
2-1
lead
and
looked
in
control
of
proceedings.

A
couple
of
minutes
into
the
second
quarter,
India,
who
were
looking
their
dominant
selves
by
now,
struck
again
with
Captain
Uttam
Singh
(17′)
getting
his
first
goal
of
the
tournament.
With
the
momentum
behind
them,
India
not
only
kept
South
Africa
at
bay
but
also
controlled
the
proceedings,
not
allowing
their
opposition
too
much
leeway,
ending
the
first
half
with
the
score
reading
3-1.

India
had
more
domination
and
goals
in
their
minds
in
the
second
half,
but
it
was
South
Africa
who
found
the
back
of
the
net.
Fawaaz
Kahder
(34′)
made
it
3-2
for
South
Africa,
before
Senzwesihle
Ngubane
(35′)
equalised,
with
both
goals
coming
from
penalty
corners.
India,
nonetheless,
got
their
noses
back
out
in
front
before
the
third
quarter
ended
Sudeep
Chirmako
(45′)
getting
on
the
scoresheet.

In
the
final
15
minutes,
India
was
looking
to
control
proceedings,
but
the
South
African
side
equalised
again
as
Cameron
Le
Forestier
(49′)
converted
another
penalty
corner,
making
it
4-4.
Soon
after,
South
Africa
went
ahead
for
the
second
time
in
the
game
Cameron
Le
Forestier
(57′)
scored
again,
to
pick
up
a
win.

India
will
take
on
Japan
in
their
third
game
at
the
10th
Sultan
of
Johor
Cup
on
Tuesday
(Oct.
25)
at
3:35pm
IST.

Source:
Hockey
India