Hockey World League Final: Argentina thrash India in opener

Drag-flicker Gonzalo Peillat scored twice in Argentina’s 3-0 win over India in Raipur on Friday.

India dished out a lacklustre performance to go down 0-3 to Argentina in the opening match of the Hockey World League Final Stadium here on Friday.

Argentina scored through Gonzalo Peillat (3rd, 60th minutes) and Joaquin Menini (24th) in a Pool B encounter.

India recently jumped two rungs to be placed sixth in the world rankings but that didn’t show in their performance against the Los Leones, who are a spot above in fifth.

The Argentines dominated the match as the Indians looked disoriented.

Argentina’s dominance could be gauged from the fact that they earned nine penalty corners to India’s one. The hosts’ problems were compounded by the misfiring forwardline, in particular Ramandeep Singh. Argentina’s drag-flick exponent Peillat gave his side the lead with a powerful flick to the right of the India custodian P.R. Sreejesh in the third minute, while Menini found the back of the net in the 24th minute.

Dharamvir Singh created India’s first real scoring opportunity in the 28th minute with a diagonal cross to the unmarked Ramandeep, but the striker failed to trap the ball.

It took India 50 minutes to secure their first penalty corner but Rupinderpal Singh’s flick was kept away by a diving Juan Vivaldi.

Argentina added another in the final minute through Peillat. On Saturday, India take on Olympic champions Germany on Saturday, while Argentina face the Netherlands.