The Olympic bronze medalists India have played poorly and lost 2-5 to the lower-tier France in the second leg of the FIH Hockey Pro League here on Saturday.
India started the match as clear favorites after a convincing win – 5-0 against France 10-2 against South Africa – in the FIH Pro League so far.
But France had other plans on Saturday and improved its enthusiastic opponents in every aspect of the game.
The Indians were slow to get out of the blocks but gained confidence as the game progressed.
While France enjoyed a preliminary exchange, India controlled the continuation but both teams failed to create a real scoring opportunity.
Minutes in the second quarter, India got their first penalty kick of the game but the wrong setup did not give Harmanpreet Singh a shot.
France unexpectedly captured India’s defense in the next round and received a penalty that was converted by Victor Charlet.
Surprised by the Frenchmen, India lifted the ante and secured a second penalty kick in the 21st minute, but French goalkeeper Arthur Thiefry came up with a clever save. denied the young Jugraj Singh.
But the next minute, India equalized when Jarmanpreet Singh’s ball bounced right from the post into France after a deflected Stanislas Branicki.
The Frenchmen looked more purposeful after changing conclusions and defending the penalty kicks that came back in the 32nd minute but failed to capitalize on those chances.
France continued their attacking game and regained their lead in the 35th minute with Viktor Lockwood, his powerful left-footed shot past the legs of veteran goalkeeper PR Sreejesh in India . net.
Down with the goal again, the Indians came out attacking and pushed the pressure on the French defender but failed to break it.
India had chances and scored five penalty kicks in the third quarter, including three in a row in the 44th minute, but made a mistake while killing.
France extended its lead in the 48th minute to its third penalty shootout with a separate claim from Charles Masson.
India also got two more penalty kicks but the Harmanpreet boys, Jugraj and Varun Kumar found it harder to beat French Defense, who were carefully led by goalkeeper Thieffry.
India pulled one back in the 57th minute with a Harmanpreet Singh penalty stroke.
Scored by the goal, the Indians increased their pressure to get two more penalty kicks but France defended in numbers.
Adding to India’s misery, world number. 13 France scored two more goals in the final two minutes of the match – first with a penalty kick by Charlet and then by Timothy Clement.
India’s inefficiency can be summed up in the fact that they got around 10 penalty points but failed to find the back of the net.
India will next play South Africa in the second FIH Pro League match between the two teams here on Sunday.
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