The Indian men’s hockey team produced a fighting performance but fell just short, losing 3-4 to Argentina in a high-octane FIH Hockey Pro League 2024/25 encounter at the Wagener Hockey Stadium in Amstelveen, Netherlands.
Skipper Harmanpreet Singh led from the front with two goals (12’, 33’), while Abhishek added a third in the 42nd minute. However, Argentina’s clinical finishing proved decisive, with Matias Rey (3’), Lucas Martinez (17’), Santiago Tarazona (34’), and Lucio Mendez (46’) finding the back of the net.
Argentina got off to a blazing start, asserting early dominance and converting pressure into a third-minute goal through Rey. India, initially on the back foot, gradually settled and began to match Argentina’s pace and aggression. The equaliser came just before the end of the first quarter, with Harmanpreet scoring a well-executed goal that lifted India’s spirits.
After a tense second quarter, India came out with renewed energy in the second half. Within minutes, Mandeep Singh won a penalty stroke after a strong run into the Argentine circle. Harmanpreet stepped up with confidence and fired low into the corner to bring India level at 2-2. But Argentina hit back almost immediately. Just seconds after the restart, Tarazona restored his team’s lead with a swift response, catching India off guard.
India didn’t relent, maintaining high intensity and pressing deep into Argentine territory. That persistence was rewarded when Abhishek pounced on a loose ball and rifled it into the top netting, levelling the score 3-3 late in the third quarter.
The decisive moment came early in the final period. Lucio Mendez capitalised on a rare lapse in India’s defence to push Argentina ahead once more. Despite their best efforts, India couldn’t find another breakthrough, and the South Americans held on to claim a thrilling victory.
The narrow loss leaves India in fourth place on the standings with 15 points from 11 matches. The two teams will meet again on June 12, offering India an immediate opportunity to bounce back and stay in contention in the tightly contested league table.
While the result didn’t go in India’s favour, the match showcased the team’s fighting spirit and offensive promise, elements they’ll look to build upon in their next outing
