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India men's hockey team hold on to defeat Argentina 2-1

Speed News Desk | Updated on: 11 February 2017, 7:47 IST

Setting aside India's hearbtreaking 2-1 loss to Germany and survived a late scare to defeat Argentina 2-1. A final-quarter onslaught from Argentina was not enough to prevent India from clinching all three points at the Rio Olympics on Tuesday, 9 August.

This win has virtually secured India a quarterfinal berth as they are now second from top with six points.

India were dominant in the first three quarters against the South American country but came under tremendous pressure from the Los Leones in the final 15 minutes. India conceded as many as five penalty corners in the final 15 minutes. Trailing 0-2, the Argentines played all out hockey in the final quarter as the Indians looked out of sorts.

It was a tense final quarter for the Indians after drag-flicker Gonzalo Peillat pulled one back for Argentina in the 49th minute by converting their first penalty corner with a lethal strike that beat goalkeeper PR Sreejesh all ends up.

It looked as if it would turn out to be another heart break for the Indians, following their 1-2 loss to Germany yesterday after conceding a goal in the dying moments, as the game's final few minutes was mostly played in the Indian half thereafter.

If not for Sreejesh, India could have suffered their second successive defeat in the Games. Sreejesh pulled off as many as five saves to deny Peillat and the Argentines.

The last time India defeated the Los Leones was back in the 2009 Champions Challenge, where they won 3-2.

India next take on London Olympics silver medallists Netherlands in their penultimate Pool B encounter on Thursday, 9 August.

First published: 10 August 2016, 7:03 IST