India vs Italy Highlights, FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifier: IND defeat ITA 5-1 to enter semi-final

With just seconds left on the clock, Italy earn a penalty corner. And they score!!! Lara Oveido jumps in front of the drag flick and deflects it into the goal! 

Italy have a consolation goal!! 

Another penalty corner, and another goal! 

Udita, in her 100th appearance for India, slots the ball into the goal! 

India have a 5-0 lead with just under five minutes remaining in the match.

IND 5-0 ITA 

WHAT A GOAL FROM NAVNEET!!!

She runs across the face of goal from the right corner flag encountering at least six Italian players in the way. Despite losing control of the ball, she refuses to give up and finally pushes the ball into the goal. INCREDIBLE!!!! 

IND 4-0 INA

Beauty Dungdung now sent to the sin bin for two minutes after a reckless tackle in the middle of the park. Reckless that one! India will have 10 players on the pitch for two minutes in the final quarter.

And now it's Salima Tete who scores! The goal comes just before the end of the third quarter.

She finds herself in a lot of space on the right flank inside the circle whren Navneet passes to her. She hits a full-blooded shot that flies in the tiny gap between the upright  and keeper Ines Caruso. 

IND 3-0 ITA

Deepika scores!!!! She calmly slots her stroke to the left of the keeper Ines Caruso. Caruso dived, but the ball was hit with too much force and was placed perfectly! 

IND 2-0 ITA

Sofia Laurito tackles Lalremsiami from behind and brings down the Indian. India earn a penalty stroke. No complains from Italy.  

India win a penalty corner. Italy review, claiming that that the ball did not hit the foot. The umpire cannot be sure, so the PC stays. But India squander the dragflick with some loose trapping and soon Italy are on the break towards the Indian goal. Thankfully for the Indians, it comes to nothing. 

Two more quarters for India to score. 

... India will qualify for the semis, where they will take on Germany. 

"Italy are playing well. There is still lots to play for, we're not there yet," says India coach Janneke Schopman at half-time. 

Italian assistant coach Pablo Fernandez at half time: " We're still open. Hope to do better., We're not happy about the performance."  

POSSESSION: IND 53-47 ITA  

CIRCLE PENETRATIONS: IND 7-3 ITA 

SHOTS: IND 5-1 ITA

India still hanging on to the one-goal advantage which they have had since the first minute of this match. 

They have had plenty of chances in the first half, but have just lacked the final touch. Janneke Schopman will be hoping that the Indians can add more goals in the second half.

In the space of a minute, India have made two forays into the circle with a burst from the left flank thwarted by the sturdy Italian defence before Salima Tete breaks into the circle from the right side of the goal in a blur of audacious stickwork. But her shot too is kicked away by the Italian keeper Ines Caruso. 

This time it's Italy who will be one player short. Ivanna Passina picks up a green for a tackle from behind on Nikki. 

Can India take advantage? 

India dominating possession so far. they have had the ball for 58 percent of the first 20 minutes. 

Both teams have been a little casual with the ball i nthe second quarter. As a result the possession has changed hands multiple times. 

It's India holding a 1-0 advantage at the end of the first quarter. Some very, very positive signs from the team in the first installment. 

An obstruction from Monika in the circle earns Italy their first PC.She is not happy about it. But her protests lead her nowhere. From the resulting dragflick, the ball breaks out of the circle and Beauty Dungdung hares down the left flank with the ball. She dodges her defender and breaks into the circle. But she is thwarted by the keeper. India have another attack, this time from Lalremsiami. 

Unfortunately, India cannot double their advantage. 

With just under four minutes left in the first quarter, Lalremsiami picks up a green card and is dismissed to the sin bin for two minutes. India will be down to 10 players. 

Lovely to see coach Pratima Barwa, the mentor to the likes of Salima & Sangita from Simdega, walk out to greet the players before India vs Italy kickoff. Must be a proud night for her.

Here's her story from when the Asian Champions Trophy took place in Ranchi. 

Relentless hockey from India for far. They've been the side with most of the possession in the first five minutes, attacking from one flank and then switching to attacking from the other. 

First minute, first goal for India! 

Salima Tete earns India a penalty corner with some nifty stickwork in the first minute itself. And India's Udita has put it into the goal past Italy's Ines Caruso! 

IND 1-0 ITA

The last time the two teams faced each other was at the Hockey Women’s World Cup 2018, when India had pumped three goals past Italy. 

The two teams have faced off in six matches with India winning 4 games and Italy winning one. 

The Indian team will be playing in their traditional blue jerseys while Italy will be sporting white kits.  

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the India vs Italy encounter at the FIH Olympic Qualifiers. After USA defeated New Zealand in their match earleir in the day, India will need to win their game to secure a spot in the semis.