5-1 vs Bangladesh makes it 5-0 for India

India recovered and beat Bangladesh after conceding a shock lead in their final match of the Hockey World League Round 2. The 5-1 result was the fifth consecutive win in the event for the hosts who now advance to the next stage of the tournament. While they were ranked 28 places below India, Bangladesh had shown that they couldn't be taken lightly with their performances so far.

Earlier, Bangladesh had also held a 2-0 lead against Ireland before going down 5-2 and subsequently beaten higher ranked teams in China and Oman. Against India, they started off strongly, winning their first penalty corner in the fifth minute of the game. Md Mamunur Rahman Chayan converted, firing a hard and low shot to the right of PR Sreejesh for his seventh goal of the tournament. As a stunned India looked to respond, Chayan continued to prove his worth by defending a violent VR Raghunath drag flick on the line to keep his side in the game.

After a sloppy first ten minutes, India managed to find their structure and were eventually rewarded when Danish Mujtaba managed a rising deflection off a free hit taken by Raghunath in the 15th minute. Bangladesh proved tenacious in defence as every forward and midfielder was marked with space hard to find. Bangladesh 'keeper Md Hussain Zahid had an exceptional day while defender Imran Hasan made a brilliant goal line clearance in the 28th minute. However, the pressure was bound to tell. In the 31st minute, Akashdeep made a steal near the 22 yard circle and passed to Mujtaba, who in turn earned a PC. Rupinder Pal Singh converted with a high flick to put India 2-1 up.

India had the chance to put the game beyond the reach early in the second half but wasted three penalty corners between the 42nd and 46th minutes. Raghunath in particular had a bad day, missing each of his four PC chances. Despite Bangladesh's dogged defence the difference in fitness between the two teams now began to make a difference in the concentration of the defenders as much as anything.

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