Juniors clinch series with fighting draw

The visitors started briskly with good ball rotation and overlaps. Their fluency was, however, checked by Argentina goalkeeper Federico Bermejillo. The visitors earned their first penalty corner in the seventh minute after an obstruction by defender Juan Manuel Pacheco. Diwakar Ram unleashed his trademark low drag-flick which was latched on to by Mujtaba on the rebound and hit home.

Argentina immediately went into the offensive from their left flank and found the equaliser through a perfect deflection by Lucas Colombo in the 13th minute.

Rasping reverse

In a sortie from the left, the hosts took the lead when an unmarked Juan Cruz Agulleiro fired a rasping reverse past goalkeeper Mrinal Chaubey in the 18th minute. Agulleriro was again on target 10 minutes later, this time diving to a measured centre past the hapless Chaubey as Argentina took a 3-1 lead at the crossover.

However, India not only wiped off the deficit but went into the lead. They were awarded their second penalty corner in the 39th minute and Diwakar made no mistake. The Indian captain again added his name to the scorers8217; sheet in the 59th minute from a penalty corner to make it 3-3.

As the match entered the final 10 minutes, Argentina went on the offensive, but Belsajar Horo8217;s interception resulted in a turnover which was executed by Karan to perfection to give India a 4-3 lead in the 61st minute.

Argentina looked for the equaliser and succeeded in getting a penalty corner that captain Martin Gebhardt converted with seconds on the clock.