India fought back successfully after giving away an early self-goal to remain 4-2 over New Zealand and reach to the pole position of Pool A in the Champions Trophy hockey tournament here on Sunday. The win conceded India six points from two matches, ensuring them the only unbeaten side in the pool after England's breathtaking 4-1 victory against Olympic champions Germany earlier in the day.
New Zealand got the initial lead in the third minute when India gave a self-goal, which has been included into international level hockey after the Olympic Games. Rupinderpal Singh faltered to clearly halt Sardar Singh's back-pass before the goal and the ball trickled past the goal-line to offer India's first self-goal in world hockey.
The Kiwis defence also came under pressure to offer India the equaliser with a self-goal. Akashdeep Singh dived resulting in a deflection on Sardar long with the ball, which went into the net off a defender to result in India scoring the equaliser in the 10th minute.
A perfect field goal by Gurwinder Singh Chandi (14th) and a penalty corner conversion by V R Raghunath (25th) resulted with India having a 3-1 lead at the lunch prior to New Zealand came back through a sudden strike by Nicholas Wilson two minutes into the second half.
Increasing pressure with consistent attacks, India put the match out of New Zealand's control when Danish Mujtaba capitalised on a rebound from the goalkeeper on a strong move in the 65th minute.
This was India's second victory in successive days, after the 3-1 drubbing of England in their first match on Saturday. India coach Michael Nobbs was amused at the way the new-look team had scored the dual victories.
"I'm happy with the boys and the manner in which they have played," Nobbs said. "They are a young bunch and they've combined well in their first tournament together. These two wins will boost the confidence of the youngsters a great deal," he added.
India will next take on Germany on Tuesday after a day’s gap on Monday. Sardar was reeling under immense pressure from the New Zealand strikers when he secured a diagonal back-pass to Rupinderpal within the circle. Rupinderpal's flaw to clearly trap the ball offered the initial lead, but India did perfectly to rise back from the backlash.
Keeping up with the pressure with a set of perfect raids got India back into the game, and Sardar's expertise to get through the gaps with long balls remained the difference that got India the equaliser. Akashdeep dived to obtain the though-pass from the midfield.
Four minutes past, Gurwinder struck in from close in a breathtaking move down the right flank and India were on a high, although they gave away two penalty corners before inching one at the other end.
Stephen Jenness from the Kiwis side had the Indian goal under pressure when he found a cross from right inside the circle and secured a stern reverse shot that was obstructed by Indian goalie TR Potunuri.
