Paris: Indian captain Harmanpreet Singh scored a critical goal just before the final whistle, earning his team a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Argentina in their Pool B encounter at the Paris Olympics on Monday.
This late equaliser was a significant boost for India, who had been trailing since the second quarter when Argentina's Lucas Martinez opened the scoring.
Argentina's initial lead highlighted their offensive prowess, putting pressure on India's defense. However, Harmanpreet's successful penalty corner in the penultimate minute demonstrated India's resilience and tactical acumen, securing a valuable point at the Yves-du-Manoir Stadium.
The third quarter was particularly tense, with Argentina nearly extending their lead. Maico Casella Schuth's missed penalty stroke proved to be a turning point, allowing India to stay within striking distance.
India dominated possession with 55 percent of the ball and created 17 attacking circle penetrations, outpacing Argentina by four. Yet, despite these advantages, India struggled to convert opportunities into goals, largely due to the impressive performance of Argentine goalkeeper Tomas Santiago, who made seven key saves.
Following their 3-2 victory over New Zealand, India now sits third in Pool B with four points. As the competition progresses, their ability to convert possession and circle penetrations into goals will be crucial.
With only the top four teams from each group advancing to the quarterfinals, every match and point is critical in their pursuit of Olympic success at Paris 2024.