Argentina defeat India 2-0 in third hockey Test

Indian forwards squandered innumerable scoring chances to go down 0-2 to Argentina in the third hockey Test at the Estadio Panamericano here today.

However, by virtue of two back-to-back wins in the opening two Tests, the visitors lead the four-match series 2-1 with the third and final match to be played tomorrow.

Matias Paredes (6th min) and Lucas Vila (32nd min) were the goal scorers for Argentina.

Irrespective of the result, it was Sandeep Singh's men who initiated the attack right from the word go only to see the Indian forwards missing as many as three chances in the first five minutes.

India could have broken the ice as early as in the second minute of the match but luck did not favour them.

Shivendra Singh's shot from linkman Rajpal Singh's set up kissed the post and went wide. Striker Deepak Thakur and Tushar Khandker immediately followed it up when they wasted golden opportunities to take the lead with only Argentine goalkeeper Juan Manuel Vivaldi to beat.

After the early hiccups, the hosts regrouped and started concerted raids with crafty manoeuvres from winger Ignacio Bergner and striker Tomas Argento.

In the sixth minute, Argentine forward Parades pounced on India skipper Sandeep's defensive lapse to shot the ball home with a reverse and give the hosts 1-0.

The Argentines slowly and steadily started to take control of the game with good co-ordination and ball control from their midfielders, backed up by some solid defending from Lopez and Gilardi.

Argentina doubled their lead in the 32nd minute through Vila who made no mistake in beating Indian goalkeeper Baljit Singh with a low flick on the right after the visitors conceded a penalty corner following a carried foul in the striking circle.

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