Bhubaneswar, Feb 26 (UNI) India enjoyed a magnificent comeback after they went 1-4 down to Spain with 15 minutes left of their match. But somehow the host nation drew on every reserve of energy to score four goals, including a dramatic penalty stroke in the final five seconds, to win the match 5-4 and move to second in the FIH Men’s Hockey Pro League on Saturday. For sheer drama, quality, suspense and unexpected outcomes, this was the match to watch. For Spain, the heartbreak of seeing yet another lead disappears under an onslaught in the final moments of the game. For India, yet another example of the way they can switch into a higher level when the chips are down. India thought they had taken an early lead when Harmanpreet rifled home first penalty corner attempt. A review saw that goal overturned and it was actually Spain who took the lead in the 14th minute when Pau Cunill scored his first goal in the FIH Pro League. A minute later Harmanpreet once again stepped up for a penalty corner after a clever move in the circle by Lalit earned India their second penalty corner. Once again Harmanpreet found a way past Mario Garin in the Spanish goal and there was no argument this time. The second quarter saw Spain begin to find new levels of energy and innovation, personified by their captain Marc Miralles. It was Miralles, who found his way onto the scoresheet, with a penalty corner and a penalty stroke in the 20th and 23rd minute. The two-goal buffer not only built the Spanish team’s levels of confidence, it also served to create a sense of frustration amongst the Indian players. At half-time, both head coaches gave their reactions. “We need far more pressure on the ball and we need to play nearer their defensive lines,” said Graham Reid, head coach of India, as he assessed what his team needed to do in the second half. It was as if Spain’s Max Caldas was listening to Reid as he spoke about how his team would be looking to defend higher up the pitch and hence prevent the India team attacking their circle so regularly. The second half burst into life as Marc Miralles scored his hat-trick with a beautifully taken reverse stick shot following a penalty corner rebound. At first, the goal was disallowed as it appeared to be outside the circle, but the decision was reversed and Spain took a 4-1 lead. It was this action that galvanized India and suddenly, with the small group of spectators roaring them on, the home side were on the comeback trail. In the 41st minute, Lakra Shilanand scored following a jinking run through the left-side of the Red Sticks defence and just two minutes later Shamsher Singh rattled home a penalty corner after Lalit Upadhyay drew a foul with some clever movements in the circle. With energy raised yet another notch, the teams faced a final 15 minutes, with Spain holding a nervy but meaningful one goal advantage. A save off the line by the Spanish defence followed seconds later by a full-length stretch by goalkeeper Mario Garin, that somehow deflected a shot, was indicative of Spain’s determination to see this victory home. However, with four minutes left, Spain gifted India a penalty corner with a slip at the top of the circle and Kumar Vuran – on his 100th appearance for the senior team – was able to draw his team level with a fantastic turn and shot. There was one more twist to this tale as India won a penalty stroke with five seconds left on the clock. Harmanpreet made no mistake and, as Spain shook their heads in disbelief, the neutrals and India supporters watching this match will have enjoyed a great, dramatic, sporting spectacle. Player of the Match, Jaskaran Singh, said: “We were losing in the first half but in the second half we made our chances, took them and won the match.” Spain’s captain Marc Miralles said: “It is tough for us because it is the same thing that happened against England, we lost in the final minutes. But we played well and if we play like this tomorrow, we will be in a position to win.
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