Ranchi, Jan 16 (IANS) Defender Udita struck a brace of objectives in her a centesimal match for the nation as India thrashed Italy 5-1 of their final Pool B match within the ladies’s FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers, organising a semifinal conflict with Germany on Thursday.

India, who began the event with a 0-1 defeat to the US, completed second in Pool B with six factors because the People topped the standings with an all-win report, beating the Black Sticks 2-0 for one more clear sheet.

Udita scored within the 1st and fifty fifth minutes off two beautifully taken penalty corners whereas Deepika, off a forty first min penalty stroke, Salima Tete within the forty fifth minute and Navneet Kaur scored a discipline aim within the 53rd minute to finish the scoreline for India. Camila Machin scored a last-second comfort for Italy by changing a penalty nook.

India will thus meet Germany within the semifinal with the US taking up Japan within the different semifinal.

India began with a 3-4-3 formation with Nisha Warsi on the base of the midfield diamond with Navneet Kaur on the edge. Udita bought a begin once more within the center discipline with Monika and Nikki Pradhan as her companions.

India solely needed to win or draw the match to complete second in Pool B whereas Italy needed to win the match by a four-goal margin.

However India made a superb begin and earned a PC within the thirty fifth second and Udita slammed dwelling a slap shot previous the goalkeeper, taking a deflection off a defender’s stick. Udita bought a aim within the second successive match as India took the early lead, similar to they did in opposition to New Zealand too.

Italy received their first PC in direction of the tip of the quarter however Savita saved it Nisha Warsi, Sonika and Salima Tete launched a few swift counters assaults however the Italian defence held on to thwart them as the primary quarter ended with India main Italy 1-0.

India received a penalty nook early within the second quarter as Sangita and Salima Tete entered the circle however the ball was intentionally pushed out. Udita’s excellent slap shot was cleared on the goalline by Camila Machin to disclaim a great probability.

A swift counterattack via Deepika and Sonika from the left flank proved futile whereas a minute later, Salima Tete made an excellent circle entry from proper however there was nobody to her move.

The Italians defended strongly and thru Ivanna Pessina because the fulcrum of their assault, slowed down the tempo and located a foothold within the midfield. The groups went into the half-time break with India nonetheless main 1-0.

The defence has saved each groups within the hunt although India ought to have been two-up however for the goalline save by Camila Machin. The Indian deep defence of Monika, Udita and Nikki saved the Italians, with a few former Argentina Internationals showing for them, at bay and allowed them just one circle penetration. The Italian forwards didn’t present a lot spark within the attacking third.

An excellent transfer by Lalremsiami resulted in her sending a high quality move to Jyoti, whose try to deflect it in went huge. A high quality transfer by Neha and Udita however the latter’s try to manufacture a penalty nook was profitable regardless of a video referral by the Italians. The possibility went to waste because the ball was not stopped correctly. Italy’s counterattack was well-defended.

With simply 5 minutes to go within the third quarter, India bagged a penalty stroke when a defensive error gave Lalremsiami an opportunity to surge into the circle however she was introduced down by the defender with solely the goalkeeper to beat. Deepika moved as much as take the stroke and scored simply to make it 2-0. A minute later, Deepika sounded the sideboard with a strong shot off a great assault initiated by Sangita.

Italy received a penalty nook on the different finish of the pitch when the ball hit Ishika’s leg however the alternative was wasted as they didn’t cease the ball correctly.

On the different finish, India discovered success once more off an assault as Vaishnavi handed to Vaishnavi, who she arrange Salima Tete and the teenager from Jharkhand slammed the ball dwelling from an acute angle for a superb aim, making it 3-0 for India.

The Indians continued to take care of the strain within the fourth quarter. Deepika created a great assault however her backhander was not deflected in.

However the fourth aim didn’t take lengthy to come back as Navneet Kaur set the transfer in movement after which ran throughout the mouth of the aim to hit the ball previous the goalkeeper for a perfectly manufactured aim.

Italy had a chance of their very own once they bagged a penalty nook however Camila Marchin’s slap shot was blocked by Nisha, which was dominated as harmful. Italy bought one other probability however Savita saved Federica Carta’s effort.

An excellent run by Lalremsiami into the circle noticed her shot hit a defender’s foot and India bagged one other PC and Udita scored with one other slap-shot that went off the goalkeeper’s pad, making it 5-0 for India.

Italy bagged a penalty nook simply earlier than the ultimate hooter and Camila Machin transformed it to make it 5-1.

–IANS

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