Torneo del Centenario hockey 2023: England 1-1 India Highlights

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The Torneo del Centenario is being held in commemoration of the 100-year anniversary of the Real Federacion Espanola de Hockey, which is the Spanish hockey federation. Apart from India and England, Netherlands and hosts Spain are taking part in the four-nations tournament.

The tournament holds immense significance for the Indian Men’s Hockey Team as it serves as a crucial preparatory event leading up to the eagerly anticipated Hero Asian Champions Trophy Chennai 2023. Following this tournament, the team’s focus will shift to the pivotal Hangzhou Asian Games 2023.

India started the tournament with a defeat against hosts Spain in their tournament opener. However, they bounced back to hold the World No. 1 and two-time defending FIH Pro League champions Netherlands to a 1-1 draw in their previous match.

Hosts Spain defeats India in tournament opener

The Indian Men’s Hockey Team put up a fighting show in their opening game of the 100th Anniversary Spanish Hockey Federation – Torneo del Centenario but hosts Spain won the closely-fought tie 2-1 in Barcelona on Tuesday. Captain Harmanpreet Singh (59’) netted a goal for India after Pau Cunill (11’) and Joaquin Menini (33’) had put the hosts in front.

India commenced the match on an aggressive note with high pressing in the first quarter but were unable to take the lead. Meanwhile, hosts Spain began to gain momentum as the first quarter progressed, and it paid off as Pau Cunill (11′) found the back of the net to put the hosts ahead in the 11th minute.

With the scoreline stacked against them, India looked to control possession and launch a counterattack in the second quarter in search of an equaliser, but Spain’s defence held strong to prevent them from bouncing back, as the second quarter ended goalless, with Spain leading 1-0 at half-time.

The third quarter began with the Indian team attacking ruthlessly and repeatedly testing Spain’s defence; however, the hosts not only kept India at bay but also doubled their lead through Joaquin Menini (33′), who found himself in an ideal position to deflect in a lighting shot by Jose Basterra.  

Trailing by two goals, India shifted gears to put relentless pressure on Spain and even won a penalty corner, but were unable to capitalise on it. Also, Spain’s goalkeeper saved Indian Captain Harmanpreet Singh’s fiery shot from a distance towards the end of the third quarter to make sure that Spain enters the final 15 minutes of the game with the two goals lead. 

In their bid to bounce back in the game, India came out all guns blazing in the fourth quarter and created some good scoring opportunities, but they still struggled to find their first goal of the game. Meanwhile, Spain switched to counter-attacking and won back-to-back penalty corners, but were unable to convert any of them.

On the other hand, India continued to put pressure on the home team’s defence, which paid off when Captain Harmanpreet Singh (59′) converted a penalty corner in the dying minutes of the game to keep his team in the game. However, Spain prevented India from scoring another goal, and the game ended 2-1 in favour of the hosts.

India hold World No. 1 Netherlands

The Indian Men’s Hockey Team came up with a valiant performance against the Netherlands, which recently won the FIH Hockey Pro League 2022-23 title, to record a 1-1 draw in an intensely-fought match here at the ongoing 100th Anniversary Spanish Hockey Federation – Torneo del Centenario on Wednesday.

India had lost to the hosts Spain in their opening game, but they bounced back today with an impressive performance. In-form captain Harmanpreet Singh scored India’s lone goal in the 12th minute, and Jasper Brinkman equalised the score for the Netherlands in the 40th. Getting off the blocks in an attacking mode, India built on early momentum.

They created chances in the circle and eventually secured an early lead when the team earned a penalty corner. Although it was the Dutch side that earned the first PC of the match, the flick was dragged wide to the left of the post. India, however, made no such error when they were awarded a PC in the 12th minute. Harmanpreet Singh was on song when he picked up a fine injection by his deputy Hardik Singh and ruthlessly struck it past the Dutch goalie. The 1-0 lead in the first quarter put India in command.

In the second quarter, both teams traded PCs but neither could find success with Krishan Pathak, who stepped in for PR Sreejesh, managing some brilliant saves. India too kept the Dutch goalie Mauritis Visser busy as they earned back-to-back PCs but were unable to extend their lead.

Continuing to stay ahead with a slender lead at half-time, India looked more confident in their pursuit while the Dutch continued to hunt for that elusive first goal. The third quarter began with both teams winning a PC each. Returning to the post, experienced Sreejesh remained calm in his endeavour to keep the opponents from converting a PC while Visser too remained as impressive, stopping India from scoring a second.

Finally, it was the experienced dragflicker Jasper Brinkman who broke the deadlock for the Dutch as he levelled scores with a splendid effort to convert the PC.

In the dying minutes of the third quarter, India produced an excellent counter-attack led by Harmanpreet to regain the lead. But he could not find the gap to penetrate the circle. The fourth quarter remained tense with both teams pushing for a lead. Though they both created several chances, they could not convert, thus the game ending at a 1-1 stalemate.