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IMAGE: India’s gamers have a good time a objective in opposition to South Africa in the course of the males’s hockey semi-final match on the 2022 Commonwealth Video games in Birmingham, on Saturday. {Photograph}: Tom Dulat/Getty Photographs
Olympic bronze medallist India eked out a hardfought 3-2 win over South Africa to advance to the lads’s hockey closing of the Commonwealth Video games in Birmingham on Saturday.
Abhishek (twentieth minute), Mandeep Singh (twenty eighth) and Jugraj Singh (58th) scored for India, whereas South Africa’s objectives got here from the sticks of Ryan Julius (thirty third) and Mustapha Cassiem (59th).
Going by kind and rankings, it was anticipated to be a cakewalk for India nevertheless it did not prove that means, courtesy South Africa custodian Gowan Jones, who dished out a superlative efficiency beneath the bar.
Had it not been for Jones’ sensible show, the score-line might have been a lot larger in favour of the Indians.
The Indians have been on the offensive from the phrase go and dominated possession for majority of the primary two quarters.
India had loads of circle penetrations and possibilities within the first quarter however objectives eluded them with Jones standing like a rock in entrance of the objective.
He denied India’s star drag-flicker Harmanpreet Singh from changing as many as 4 penalty corners within the first half to maintain his aspect within the recreation.
Jones’ anticipation and reflexes have been a deal with to look at as he pulled off save after save.
Not solely penalty corners, Jones was additionally strong in entrance of the objective from open play as he saved out Shamsher Singh’s strive from shut vary within the tenth minute after he was set by Akashdeep Singh.
Seconds later Jones pulled off one other beautiful reflex save to disclaim Akashdeep.
South Africa seemed to have gotten some rhythm within the second quarter and secured three penalty corners in fast succession however India’s reserve goalie Krishan Bahadur Pathak was upto the duty.
The impasse lastly broke within the twentieth minute when Abhishek scored with a smashing reverse hit from high of the circle to lastly beat Jones.
Minutes later, Jones as soon as once more got here to his aspect’s rescue, blocking Amit Rohidas’ fierce shot after which stopping Akashdeep’s reverse shot.
However Indian crew doubled its lead within the twenty eighth minute by way of Mandeep, who scored a effective objective after being fed by Gurjant Singh.
India secured one other penalty nook two minutes after the change of ends however wasted it.
South Africa seemed extra decided after the change of ends and lowered the margin three minutes after restart by way of Julius who scored of a rebound from a penalty nook.
Jones was in high kind as he pulled off one other effective save off Abhishek within the thirty eighth minute.
IMAGE: Abhishek scores the opening objective for India within the twentieth minute. {Photograph}: Tom Dulat/Getty Photographs
South Africa have been to not be slowed down as they penetrated the Indian circle at times and secured some penalty corners however did not breach the defence.
Within the forty first minute, Jones made one other sensible save to maintain out Jarmanpreet Singh’s effort from India’s sixth set piece.
Within the closing quarter, India tried to play the possession recreation and focussed on defending as South Africa pressed laborious.
India’s ploy labored completely as they managed to held on to South Africa’s ahead press.
With 4 minutes to go, South withdrew Jones and India utilised the possibility to increase their lead with Jugraj slamming house from a penalty nook.
The Africans threatened India when Cassiem scored with a reverse hit to make it 3-2.
The Indians, nevertheless, managed to carry on to their result in seal a closing berth after 2014 version, the place they got here second finest to Australia.
Within the gold medal match, India will play the winner of the second semi-final between Australia and England within the closing on Sunday.
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