Perth, 3 October 2016: In a game that saw goals in the first and the final quarters, India prevailed over the Tassie Tigers 3-2 to record their third victory in the AHL.
In a highly entertaining and attack minded first quarter both teams traded early chances. Jayden Pearson in the Tigers’ goal saved a penalty corner in the opening minutes denying India the opener. Soon after India’s first runners defended strongly to deny the Tassies via PC. In the 10th minute, Armaan Qureshi gave India the breakthrough with a field goal.
In the 12th minute though, the Tigers equalised, James Dick with the goal to draw them level. Almost from the restart India won a PC and this time, Varun Kumar made it count, slotting the ball home to wrest back the lead heading into the first break.
The second quarter saw both teams PC attempts, but some stout defending denied either team a lead. The teams headed into halftime separated by the single goal, India leading 2-1.
The two teams came out for the second half, both intent on sticking to a game plan that would nick them the points from the clash. India in the lead, were content with passing the ball around neatly in their ranks, and soaked up the pressure from the Tigers going into the final break with the lead.
The Tigers got the equaliser in the 50th minute via a William Shaw PC conversion. It wasn’t to last for too long though as Qureshi got his second of the game in the 54th minute to fire India back into the lead. It was a lead they held on to strongly to take the win and maintain an unbeaten record in the competition.
Speaking after the game, coach Harendra Singh said, “The boys showed a lot of maturity in controlling the game and not giving away possession impatiently, in the periods where the Tigers were defending well. It was also this sort of mind-set that helped us bounce back immediately, each time we conceded an equaliser. Overall a smart performance.”
India will play Western Australia Thundersticks in their next Pool B encounter on Oct 5 at 1600hrs IST.