NEW DELHI: India warded off relentless pressure from world No. 2 England and held the hosts to a 1-1 draw in their opening game of the
Women's Hockey World Cup at London's Lee Valley and Hockey Centre on Saturday.
Played in front of a sell-out crowd, the Indians surprised their fancied opponents by taking the lead in the 25th minute through
Neha Goyal despite the unending dominance of English players backed by a boisterous support.
The hosts, who earned as many as nine penalty corners, left it until late in the fourth quarter when
Lily Owsley scored the equaliser in the 54th minute, thanks to a delay in clearance by an Indian defender.
In contrast, India failed to earn even a single penalty corner.
The home team dominated the match from the word go, and the pressure reached its peak in the last 15 minutes, which enabled one of the tournament favourites to salvage a point from what would have been a big upset on the opening day of the tournament itself.
England, however, could have scored before India but the visitors were saved by a video referral. Six minutes into the second quarter, the umpire claimed to have spotted a goal-bound ball hitting an Indian player's body while defending a penalty corner. But skipper Rani Rampal chose to review it.
The video umpire overturned the decision declaring that the ball hit the player's foot after a deflection off her stick.
At half-time, India led 1-0.
Before equalising, the closest England came to scoring was off their sixth penalty corner in the 34th minute when Sunita Lakra made a goal-line save to keep India in front.
The home crowd's chants of 'let's go England, let's go, grew only louder with every passing minute in the last quarter. The hosts finally found that extra gear through Owsley to answer the crowd's call and avoid an upset defeat.
India play their second Pool B match against Ireland on July 26.
(Photo Courtesy: Hockey India)
