New Delhi:
India came from behind to beat Spain 2-1 in the Junior Hockey World Cup quarter-final match in Lucknow on Thursday.
Trailing 0-1 at the half-time mark, India scored twice in the second half to grab a place in the semi-final.
March Serrahima’s gole put Spain ahead in the first half but India staged an emphatic comeback with an equaliser and a winner courtesy Simranjeet and Harmanpreet Singh.
Simranjeet pounced on the rebound to level the scoring for India in the 57th minute and then it was Harmanpreet Singh’s clinical finish of a penalty corner in the 66th minute which gave India the lead after intense hockey in the two halves.
India will now take on Australia in Friday’s semi-final. The hosts last won the Junior Hockey World Cup in 2001.
Most of the Indian players are in sublime touch and a combination of brilliant attack with solid defence has worked wonders for the team.At present, the Indian team is top favourite to win the tournament.
(With inputs from Agencies)