The Indian women's hockey team defeated a lowly Ghana 5-0 to start its Commonwealth Games campaign on a winning note in Birmingham on Friday. (More Hockey News)
✃The Savita Punia-led team was, however, far from impressive in its first Pool A game.
𝔉Gurjit Kaur (3rd, 39th minutes) scored a brace, while Neha Goyal (28th), Sangita Kumari (36th) and Salima Tete (56th) struck a field goal each for India.
🦄Even though India dominated the match in all departments, it was a lacklustre performance from them in the first two quarters as Ghana's defence produced a resolute show to frustrate their fancied opponents.
🥀What was frustrating for India was the weak link-up between the midfield and the forwardline.
🧔Penalty corner conversion also continued to haunt India as they made use of just one out of 10 chances.
♏The Indians were expected to steamroll Ghana but goalkeeper Abigail Boye made some phenomenal saves to keep her side in the contest.
She was ably supported by her backline.
✤The Indians pressed on the accelerator from the onset and took the lead in the third minute when Gurjit converted her side's first penalty corner with a fierce drag-flick to the right corner.
🥂India soon earned a second penalty corner but Ghana defended bravely with Boye producing yet another fine save.
ღJust before the end of the first quarter, India were awarded a penalty stroke for a foul inside the 'D' but Ghana successfully challenged the decision.
✅The Indians came out attacking in the second quarter while Ghana were content on soaking up the pressure.
🃏The Indians mounted attacks after attacks but Ghana backline thwarted them.
🅷Ghana secured a penalty corner with three minutes from half-time but failed to get past India captain Savita.
ౠGhana secured another set piece before the breather but wasted the opportunity.
🥃The Indians doubled their lead in the very next minute through Neha, whose push went inside the goal after getting a deflection from a Ghana defender.
💞Neha was once again in the thick of things but her fierce shot from point blank range was saved by Ghana goalkeeper Boye.
🎃Three minutes after the change of ends, India secured two quick penalty corners but wasted both.
ꦆSangita Kumari extended India's lead, finding the target from a goalmouth melee in the 36th minute.
꧋India earned another penalty corner soon after but failed to utilise it.
𝓰The Indians, however, made the scoreline 4-0 in the 39th minute when Gurjit scored from a penalty stroke.
𒐪India wasted another penalty corner in the 42nd minute. Three more penalty corners were also wasted after that.
🍸Salima scored four minutes from the hooter after her shot went into the goal following a deflection from the stick of Ghana captain Nafisatu Umaru.
🍨India will next take on Wales in their second pool match on Saturday.
