Misfiring India lose second hockey Test against Spain

A misfiring India squandered chances and conceded a late goal to go down 1-2 to hosts Spain in the second hockey Test in Santander.

By virtue of this win at the new facility in La Albericia in Santander, Spain ranked fifth in the world, pocketed the two-match series 1-0 after the first game between the two sides ended in a 3-3 draw on Thursday.

The 10th ranked Indians started on a bright note on Saturday and took the lead when Sandeep Singh converted a penalty corner in the 28th minute.

But Spain restored parity in the 34th minute when striker Pau Quemada scored from the field to go into the breather locked at 1-1.

Credit should also go to Indian custodian P R Sreejesh for keeping the visitors in the hunt till the last minute. Sreejesh was brilliant under the goal and denied the Spanish forwards on three clear occasions.

Spain's consistent pressure after the change of ends finally bore fruit in the 69th minute when skipper Santi Freixa Lleonart converted a penalty corner to completely stun the Indians.

Thereafter, India got two more chances to salvage a draw in the form of penalty corners, but the visitors faltered on both occasions.

India will now play a three-match Test series against South Africa starting later in the day before featuring in a three-nation invitational tournament, involving Spain and Great Britain.

Photograph: Laxmi Negi