The Indian men's hockey team suffered a heartbreaking 1-2 defeat against Argentina in the FIH Pro League, marking their fourth consecutive loss in the European leg of the competition. The match, played in Amstelveen, Netherlands, was filled with drama, ultimately decided by a late disallowed goal that sparked controversy.
Jugraj Singh had given India an early lead, converting a penalty corner in the fourth minute. However, Argentina responded swiftly, with Tomas Domene scoring twice (9th and 49th minutes) from penalty corners to turn the game in their favor. Despite trailing, India fought hard and earned a penalty stroke in the dying minutes of the game when Abhishek made a strong run. Jugraj Singh stepped up and successfully sounded the board, appearing to have leveled the score.
However, Argentina immediately challenged the goal, arguing that Jugraj's left foot was ahead of the ball when he took the stroke. The video umpire initially ruled in Argentina's favor. Adding another layer of drama, India reviewed, contending that the Argentinian goalkeeper, Tomas Santiago, had moved off his line too early. The video umpire sided with India this time, and a retake was ordered. Under immense pressure, Jugraj stepped up again, but Santiago pulled off a stunning save, denying India the equalizer and sealing the victory for Argentina.
This defeat leaves India in a precarious position in the FIH Pro League standings. They currently sit fifth with 15 points from 12 matches. The absence of captain Harmanpreet Singh due to a finger injury was a significant blow to the team. Hardik Singh took over the captaincy in his absence. Coach Craig Fulton acknowledged Argentina's strength before the match, despite India holding a psychological edge from previous encounters. However, the team was slow to start and made avoidable unforced errors. Argentina's goals often came early in each quarter, capitalizing on these lapses. Matias Rey scored in the 3rd minute in the first leg. In the second leg, Argentina's first goal came in the 9th minute, the second in the 17th, the third in the 34th and the fourth and decisive goal came within 20 seconds of the fourth quarter.
India will need to regroup quickly as they travel to Antwerp, Belgium, to face Australia on Saturday. With the competition for spots heating up, every match is crucial. India will be aiming to address their defensive vulnerabilities and capitalize on scoring opportunities to get their campaign back on track.
