India continue winning run

Hockey: Vandana, Poonam strike as eves down Poland 2-0

 Indian women marched to their second straight victory in the Hockey World League Round-2 with a 2-0 victory over Poland at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium on Sunday.

India, who kicked off their campaign with a thumping 13-0 victory against Ghana, lacked the intensity against Poland but did enough to comfortably pip them. Vandana Katariya (13th) and Poonam Rani (26th) scored for the hosts.

After a calculated start, India launched themselves into the offensive. The Poland midfield and backline were breached without fuss and their goalkeeper was kept on her toes. In contrast Indian backline was hardly tested, barring when Poland got their only penalty corner in the first quarter. Otherwise, it was a game dominated and dictated by India under intermittent rains.  The fact that they could earn just one penalty corners in the match would concern India.

Deep Grace came close to scoring in the 12th minute of the match with two back-to-back strikes to the goal but Polish goalkeeper Dominika Nowicka was quick to stave them. Later, Vandana opened the scoring as she latched on the ball from the top of the circle and hammer home.

However, there were quite a few chances that also went abegging for India.  Poonam finally extended the hosts’ lead when she scored off a rebound. It was Amandeep Kaur who had taken the first hit at the goal from the deserted circle but Nowicka was quick to deny that. Poonam , however, promptly grabbed the deflection to sound the board. She threw her arms in air in jubilation with India entering the half time 2-0 ahead.

In contrast to the first two quarters, the second half turned out to be a goalless affair. The third and fourth quarters saw a galvanized Poland defence resist Indian strikers. India at the most could earn just one penalty corner towards the dying minutes of the game. 

Results: Kazakhstan: 4(Vera Domashneva 2nd minute, 28th, Sazontova Natalya 38th, Olga Khonina 43rd) bt Singapore: 0; Malaysia: 3(Hannis Onn 37th, Juliani Din 40th, Fazilla Sylvester 59th) bt Russia: 0; Thailand: 3(Chantree Yungyuen 14th, 60th, Kornkanok Sanpoung 32nd) bt Ghana: 1(Georgina Sam 33rd); India: 2 (Vandana Katariya 13th, Poonam Rani 26th) bt Poland: 0