Ireland edged past higher-ranked India 1-0 in their second Pool B match to seal their place in the ongoing Hockey Women’s World Cup 2018 quarter-finals with a game to spare at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre on Thursday.
A 13th-minute penalty corner conversion by Anna O’Flanagan was all that Ireland required as they doggedly defended to record consecutive upsets in the tournament en route a quarter-final berth. Ireland had earlier shocked world no. 7 USA 3-1 in their tournament opener, have topped the Group B with this win. By virtue of this win, Ireland are now leading Pool B with six points, followed by England (2 points), India and USA (1 point each).
Gold Rate
20 May 2025
It was also India’s second consecutive defeat to Ireland having lost to the same opponents 1-2 in their last encounter at the Hockey World league Semifinals in Johannesburg last year.
It was not that the Indian eves did not create enough chances. If they failed to secure a single penalty corner in their 1-1 draw against England, they secured as many as seven penalty corners on Thursday but failed to convert even a single one. The Women in Blue also had chances to score from open play but the forwards lacked finishing touch as Ireland well.
India will next play USA in a must-win last pool game on July 29 to stand in with any chance of progressing to the knockout stage while Ireland will take on England.
