Johannesburg, July 12:
Preetti Dubey scored the all- important winner as a gritty India beat Chile 1-0 to enter the quarter-finals of the FIH Women’s Hockey World League (HWL) Semi-Final, here today.
Preeti’s 38th minute goal ensured India earned their first win in the tournament after a goalless draw against South Africa and 1-4 loss to mighty USA in their previous matches.
Both the teams traded penalty corners in the first quarter with Chile winning the first in the fourth minute of the match while India earned their first short corner in the 12th minute but nothing came off from the opportunities.
Though it seemed like India had scored off the rebound when they earned another penalty corner in the 12th minute through a successful video referral, the goal was denied as it came off the body and not the stick.
In the second quarter, Chile managed to create some but that didn’t stop India from creating scoring opportunities. One such chance came in the 19th minute when Anupa Barla brilliantly stole the ball from a Chilean player, setting up a counter attack, to find Rani in the striking circle but the striker missed the post by inches.
After a barren first half, India finally made a breakthrough when Rani and Preeti worked in tandem.(PTI)
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