Manheim: In the second match of their USA tour, India beat the hosts team 2-1 in Pennsylvania today.
A match which saw the teams to be slow and cautious during the first quarter, resulting in a goalless quarter; none of the two teams being able to breach the circle and create openings. The American team was able to end the deadlock on the scoreboard as they took lead in the 19th minute of the second quarter via a Jill Witmer PC conversion.
And this stayed as the score when the two teams went into half time separated by that strike with the USA leading 1-0. With this score, all India needed to do was to step up their game.
And, India came out stronger in the second half with all their guns blazing and started creating inroads into the US defense, breaching the circle and entering the opposition defense area. Came out then the reward for all the pressure exerted on the opponent as in the final minute of the third quarter, Preeti Dubey scoring the equalizer via a penalty corner conversion.The score was even at the end of the third quarter and read 1-1.
The teams came into the fourth and final quarter with the intent to win the match as this quarter presented both teams with an opportunity to take home the victory.
Team India were the ones who capitalised on it, came out with same intensity as the thrid half and continuing with their momentum to constantly keep the pressure up in the final quarter.
And In the 55th minute, Lilima Minz scored the decider off a PC to give them the lead and the final score to the match, which they held on to record their first victory of the tour.
India will play Canada on 22nd July in their third match of the tour.