Xtra Time Web Desk: A resilient performance by India saw them register a thrilling 3-1 win against the defending Olympic Champions Argentina in their fourth Pool A encounter here at the Oi Hockey Stadium on Thursday. This was India’s third win in the Pool stage which has put them at the No.2 spot in the pool A table with one more match remaining to be played against hosts Japan on Friday. India’s goals came from dragflicker Varun Kumar (43′) called up in place of Birendra Lakra, Vivek Sagar Prasad (58′) and Harmanpreet Singh (59′). Maico Casella (48′) was the lone goal scorer for Argentina.
Having secured two wins (3-2 against New Zealand; 3-0 against Spain) and a bitter 1-7 loss against World No.1 Australia in their Pool A campaign so far, India’s intent to put Argentina under the pump right from the start was evident with dominant ball possession.
With both teams locked in a 0-0 stalemate at half-time, India managed to change the script as they earned three penalty corners early in this quarter. Though Rupinder Pal Singh couldn’t convert two back-to-back opportunities in the 42nd minute, India’s Varun Kumar did well this time to picked up a good injection from Shamsher Singh to power the ball past Vivaldi to fetch India their first goal in the 43rd minute.
Conceding a PC against a team like Argentina whose PC attack is one of the best in the world saw India fumble their 1-0 lead in the 48th minute as Maico Casella was impeccable in his dragflick to pump the ball to the top right corner.
In the final three minutes of play remaining, Dilpreet inside the D received a good pass, turned around to position him to take a shot on goal but it bounced off Vivaldi’s pads, however, Vivek Sagar Prasad gave it a finishing touch with just a little nudge into the net. India’s 2-1 lead was extended in the 59th minute when they won a penalty corner and it was brilliantly struck by Harmanpreet Singh, thus ensuring the team of a place in the Quarter Finals of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.