Women's FIH Pro League 2021-22: India Register Famous Win Over Olympic Silver Medallist Argentina

Gurjit Kaur scored a brace as the Indian women's hockey team dished out a spirited performance to stun Olympic silver medallist Argentina 2-1 in the shoot-out after a 3-3 stalemate in regulation time in the first match of the double-leg FIH Pro League tie in Rotterdam on Saturday. Gurjit's (37th, 61st minutes) two penalty corner conversions and Lalremsiami's (4th) field strike cancelled out Agustina Gorzelany's (22, 37th, 45th) hat-trick to take the match into the shoot-out.

In the shoot-out, Neha Goyal and Sonika scored for India, while Victoria Granatto was the lone scorer for reigning Pro League champions Argentina as the Savita Punia-led side registered a famous win and avenged their 1-2 defeat against the same opponents in the Tokyo Olympic semifinals.

The Indians started strongly in the match, dominating the early exchanges.

India put pressure on the Argentina defence early on and secured a penalty corner in the third minute but Monika's flick was saved by the opposition goalkeeper Belen Succi.

A minute later, India surged ahead through a brilliant field goal by Lalremsiami.

It was Deep Grace Ekka who created the chance with her defence splitting pass from outside the circle and Lalremsiami dodged her marker to get a brilliant touch which completely foxed the Argentine goalie.

Stunned by the goal, the Argentines came out out attacking and secured two penalty corners in succession soon but the Indian defence stood firm.

Seconds before the end of first quarter, Sharmila Devi's effort from close range from a Navneet Kaur pass was kept out by Succi. The Indians started on the same note in the second quarter but Argentina slowly and steadily got their acts together.

Six minutes into the second quarter, Argentina earned