England defeated India 2-0 in the FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifiers Final match held at Gachibowli Stadium in Hyderabad, thus ending the tournament on a high note. Even though both teams had already qualified for the upcoming FIH Women’s Hockey World Cup to be held in Belgium and the Netherlands, England dominated the final match to emerge at the top.
Early Momentum from India but England Strike First
India started the FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifiers Final matches with a strong intent, as they showed aggressive play and pressed hard in the middle of the field. This strategy was a reflection of the advice of their head coach, Sjoerd Marijne, who told the Indian team to play positively from the very beginning of the game.
Although India started the game well, England scored their first goal from their first penalty corner attempt in the 13th minute of the game. Their defender, Grace Balsdon, scored a powerful drag flick, beating the Indian defense and goalkeeper, to give the English team the lead.
Balsdon scored her fifth goal of the tournament, and she shares the position of the highest scorer of the tournament so far, along with Italy’s Teresa Viana.
India Create Chances but Lack Final Touch
After allowing England to score the opening goal, India tried to get back into the game by launching forward moves starting from the midfield. They were successful in gaining possession of the ball and going forward, but they failed to convert their chances into goals.
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Once again, forward Navneet Kaur was in top form, displaying her speed and forward moves. She created some promising moves in the circle, but due to the lack of support, they failed to score the equalizing goal. India also earned four penalty corners during the match, but England’s defense did not let them score, blocking each and every attempt.
England Seal Victory in the Third Quarter
England increased their lead in the 43rd minute of the FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifiers Final match. Elizabeth Neal’s ball towards the goal area deflected off India’s Manisha Chauhan and went in, doubling England’s lead. This goal virtually decided the match, as India could not breach England’s solid defensive structure in the later stages of the match.
Qualification Secured Despite Final Loss
While India failed to deliver in the FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifiers Final, the team did manage to achieve their main aim of qualifying for the FIH Women’s Hockey World Cup.
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This tournament also marked the first big test for the team’s head coach, Sjoerd Marijne, in his second stint as the team’s head coach. The team had some young players in the squad, and they showed promise in the tournament, even though they failed in the final.
Focus Shifts to the FIH Women’s Hockey World Cup
Once qualification is confirmed, India will shift their focus towards preparations for the FIH Women’s Hockey World Cup, which is slated to be held in Belgium and the Netherlands.
While the English team celebrated their unbeaten run and winning the FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifiers Final, the Indian team will look to work on their consistency, scoring, and defensive aspects.
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