India vs Canada: India moved to the top of Pool B with the win. (Source: PTI)
In-form India continued their winning run in the Hockey World League semifinals with a convincing 3-0 win over Canada who had given a good account of themselves on Friday by demolishing Pakistan 6-0. But on Saturday, India were strong all around with three goals in the first half to seal the deal.
India vs Canada, World Hockey League Semi-Final Scores and Updates:
1952 hrs IST: FULL TIME! India beat Canada 3-0 in the second group with no goals in the fourth quarter either. India are two wins in two and go top of Pool B. All goals in the first half. SV Sunil with the opener, Akashdeep Singh with the second and Sardar Singh sealed the deal.
1932 hrs IST: No goals in the third quarter. India lead 3-0. No real threat to either goals and India would be happy to keep going forward
1922 hrs IST: Fourth penalty corner for India as the ball hits a Canadian foot inside the area. Harmanpreet’s shot takes a little deflection and it is enough for the Canadian defender on the goal to get his stick up and deny the goal
1919 hrs IST: SAVED! Third penalty corner of the match for India. Neat play to beat the defender trying to close down the shot but the final shot goes over. India 0/3 on PC’s today
1915 hrs IST: Vikas Dahiya makes himself big to save and then uses his foot to deny another attempt. Real meleee in the area and Canada have their first penalty corner of the match. And it is saved by Dahiya. Stays 3-0 to India.
1914 hrs IST: Second half underway. India get the ball rolling this time around. The team would look to maintain the momentum from the first half
1903 hrs IST: HALF TIME! At the break India lead Canada 3-0 and convincingly so. Canada have had a good chance to reduce that lead but failed to make that chance count. On the whole, India deservedly in the lead
1858 hrs IST: CHANCE! Huge chance for Canada to get one back but the player at the far post misses the push into the goal. Probably blindsided by the Indian player ahead of him and the chance goes begging
1857 hrs IST: Second penalty corner for India with 05:28 to go in the second quarter. But the shot, angled on the right side of the goal, doesn’t have enough moment with the Canada player defending it away. Jasjit’s attempt goes to waste
1848 hrs IST: MAKE THAT 3-0! GOAL!! Turnover near the middle of the pitch as Ramandeep Singh runs forward and passes the ball sidewards to an unmarked Sardar Singh who pushes the ball home. Nearly walking the ball home there
1844 hrs IST: At the end of the first quarter, India lead Canada 2-0 with goals from SV Sunil and Akashdeep Singh.
1843 hrs IST: India with sustained pressure on the Canada goal. Keeping the ball well, moving it quickly and have the Canadian players pegged back and unable to get much of the ball
1838 hrs IST: GOAL! Akashdeep Singh doubles India’s advantage with a gorgeous bit of stickwork. Angles the stick fantastically with pressure from the defender and keeper but clips it over the on-rushing goalie to drive the ball home. Sweet conversion! India 2-0!
1832 hrs IST: GOAL!! India get the opening goal. Looks like an own goal. SV Sunil tries to play a fellow blue shirt in but it takes a deflection off the Canada player and squeezes into the goal
1827 hrs IST: SV Sunil goes darting down the right line and earns India the first PC in just the first minute. Harmanpreet Singh gets the shot on but he sends it over the bar
1825 hrs IST: Ramandeep Singh the danger man for India. He scored two goals for India in the opening game to overturn the deficit and give the lead. Canada get the ball rolling!
1822 hrs IST: Teams are out for the national anthems. Canada’s national anthem first. They’re donning the red-and-black kit while India are in their blue.
1815 hrs IST: The lineups:
