By SUNIL Sonkar
New Delhi, March 04 — India lost to Spain by 5-2 in the Pool B of Hockey World Cup on Thursday at Major Dhyanchand Stadium. Spain dented the semi-final berth hope of India with their spectacular win.
At the end of the first-half host India failed to score out of penalty corner and trailed Spain 0-2.
Albert Sala of Spain scored the first goal of the team in the 19th minute and gave the team an early lead.
The lead was extended when captain Pol Amat scored for Spain when it was 14 seconds to go in the first half.
In the eleventh minute of the first half Spain got a penalty corner but fail to convert it.
The two teams played fast-paced game. Francisco Cortes, Spanish goal-keeper, was able to save twice in a brilliant performance of Sandeep Singh’s penalty corner strike and Sardara Singh’s rebound shot.
Though India made few good moves but those were not in fact converted to goals.
The first goal from India was scored in the second half by star drag flicker Sandeep Singh in the 39th minute. Soon after this Spain extended lead by two goals. In the 41st minute Pau Quemada scored and Ramon Alegre in the 42nd minute.
Thursday’s defeat was the second of India in the World Cup. On Tuesday India lost to Australia by 5-2.
The opening match of India was in great fashion when it defeated archrivals Pakistan by 4-1 on Sunday.
Spain is now ranked on second place in Pool B with Australia.
