Highlights, Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2018, India vs Argentina: Gonzalo Peillat's hat-trick seals win for the South Americans

Lack-lustre display by India but they have positives from the match and hopefully they will do something different against England.

For India, Amit Rohidas got two goals. India now play England tomorrow, Sunday, in their 2nd match.

And that’s it. Olympic Champions Argentina has beaten India 3-2 in the first match of the Azlan Shah Cup. It’s a glorious hat-trick from Gonzalo Peillat that gives the South Americans three points.

Talwinder had a chance but muffs it.

Just about a minute left as Arg lead 3-2.

Ramandeep had a chance but can’t control as rains come down again.

Minutes ticking away and so is hope of finding an equaliser. Arg leading 3-2 with three minutes to go.

Sumit gets a green card. India down to ten men.

Argentina playing well in short passes. Constantly putting India under pressure. Less than five mins to go.

Wrong pass from Gurjant again. It not only stops an attack developing. But gives the counter to Argentina.

Rain getting a little heavier again. Play continues. Argentina attacking.

Argentina on the attack. They are trying for a PC. But India get a free hit.

And the match has started once again.

Rain is down to a slight drizzle. Teams lining up, taking their positions. Argentina leading 3-2. India have eleven minutes to find an equaliser.

It’s almost time to restart. Teams going back to the dug out after warming up slightly.

India is warming up for the remaining 11 minutes of play

India warming up for the 11 mins left in the 4th quarter. Arg lead 3-2.#AzlanShahCup pic.twitter.com/qwQ1iBTNPk

— Sundeep Misra (@MisraSundeep) March 3, 2018

Players are getting ready to come on. Umpires are making another inspection. Water draining away quite fast. Teams are coming out for a quick warm-up.

Rains seems to be lessening. But it will take ten mins for the water to drain away. It’s an umpires call now.

Umpire coming out to look at the turf. They need to check on the water logging. But there is water collected around the striking circle.

Irrespective of the result of this match, India have a lot to think about; Sjoerd Marijne also as the coach and leader of the think tank. If India can take a point here after play resumes, it would be great looking at Sunday’s game against England.

It’s still pouring here in Ipoh. Play has been stopped between India and Argentina. Not an uncommon sight to see rains in the Ipoh evening.

Rains are getting heavier

Downpour continues. Arg are leading 3-2 in the 4th quarter; 1st match of the Azlan Shah.#AzlanShahCup pic.twitter.com/P7yEK88PXh

— Sundeep Misra (@MisraSundeep) March 3, 2018

There have been some wonderful play also from the Indians. Amit Rohidas with two PC conversions, Sumit Kumar with some wonderful runs and a lovely overlap move by Nilam Xess.

Pitch water logged at the moment. Reminds one of the last match between both the teams. It had rained then also and Argentina had criticised the playing conditions. The Bhubaneswar pitch that evening resembled a lagoon.

Raining heavily now. Maybe the stop will help India to understand where they are going wrong. It’s one thing to say you are a young team. But wrong passes have taken the sting out of the forward line. Unlike in the first ten mins where they held the ball and made every pass count, India have slowly slid. Thanks to Rohidas’ two PC conversions, India have hit back with two goals. But Argentina look good leading 3-2 at the moment.

Heavy rains suspends play

Raining heavily at the stadium. Arg lead 3-2 with 11 mins left in the match. Play stopped.#AzlanShahCup pic.twitter.com/34H5FNMDvR

— Sundeep Misra (@MisraSundeep) March 3, 2018

Play has been stopped. More because of the lightning. Teams back in their dugouts. With 11 minutes left in the match, Argentina lead 3-2.

And they fail to stop the ball cleanly. India get away.

And Argentina get their 7th PC after an almost 180 degree passing routine around the pitch.

Match still on. It can only be stopped if water collects on the pitch.

And it starts pouring at the Azlan Shah Stadium.

Back for the 4th quarter. It’s a young Indian team. The youngsters shouldn’t be giving away balls to Argentina. It’s like giving Argentina the initiative to attack.

That’s the end of the 3rd quarter. Argentina lead 3-2.

Just a minute left in the 3rd quarter. Five Indian players standing vertically on the right half. Structures all gone.

Yet if India can conjure up a moment of magic they can get a goal and an equaliser.  Tough going for India.

India almost seem directionless at the moment. Bad pass from Mandeep Mor. Gurjant passes to nowhere. Argentina always getting the counter off Indian mistakes.

India need to build up momentum. Gaping holes in the midfield. Wrong passes giving Argentina the ball to build and keep India away. At this moment, Argentina playing easily.

Too many Indian players crowded into wrong positions. Argentina slowing the pace to suit their style.

Low intensity from India.

Defensive errors all over the place. Surender has the ball but passes to an Argentine. India losing the pace and set-ups. Ramandeep with the ball but the pass is wayward.

GOAL. GOAL. Argentina lead 3-2. Peillat completes a hat-trick. Brilliant flick into the corner. Suraj Karkera has no chance to stop it.

The umpire points for a 5th PC.

Argentina get their 5th PC.

The PC came off a brilliant run by Sumit Kumar. And Rohidas was on target.

GOAL. GOAL. India have the Equaliser. Amit Rohidas gets it . It’s 2-2

It’s dark now with the clouds hovering. The flood lights are coming on. And India get their 4th PC.

The 3rd quarter about to start. Can India create something here and get a goal? It’s been a subdued display till now.

India trail 1-2 at half-time

Argentina lead 2-1 over India. Its the break after two quarters. Peillat gets two goals for Arg. Rohidas for India.#AzlanShahCup pic.twitter.com/krULJQQAz7

— Sundeep Misra (@MisraSundeep) March 3, 2018

India have a lot of work to do. Not very effective in the midfield. Both Sardar and Uthappa playing a subdued role. They need more force in the middle.

Dark clouds gathering in the distance. It surely looks like it would rain. Ipoh usually has these downpours every evening.

And that’s the end of the 2nd quarter. 

Argentina lead 2-1 off two very good PC conversions by their star Gonzalo Peillat. India reduce the margin through another PC off Amit Rohidas.

Experience of Argentina the big difference here. They play short passes with quick counters.

And the Indian defence saves the PC. It’s a counter by India.

India need to make most of the momentum. But they are committing mistakes in trapping and collecting the ball. Initiative going to Argentina, thanks to India. And now Argentina have their 4th PC, yet again off a crowded Indian defence.

GOAL. GOAL. India have scored. Amit Rohidas with a good flick reduces the margin to 1-2.

And now it’s a 3rd PC. And India have cut the scores off a Amit Rohidas flick. It’s 1-2.

Varun Kumar’s flick hits a defender on the feet and the umpire points to a stroke. But Argentina win the referral. It’s a 2nd PC.

India have their 1st PC of the match with 5 mins left in the 2nd quarter.

Atrocious defence work by India, falling over each other. Argentina gets a PC as a gift and they deliver. The Olympic Champions are leading 2-0. India in deep trouble.

GOAL. GOAL. An amazing PC conversion by Peillat. Argentina lead 2-0.

Surprising that after the first ten minutes of very good hockey, India unable to create opportunities. And Argentina get their 3rd PC.

India create a move but Simranjeet Singh with a lazy move gives the ball away to Argentina. Need to hold the ball and make it count.

India missing crucial passes inside the Argentina half, giving the South Americans the chance to counter.

India need to regroup. They are missing crucial traps in the midfield. Against a side that can play with a compact mindset like Argentina, India need to stretch the flanks. They did that in the first ten mins and caused huge problems for Argentina.

Argentina now playing with a bit more fluency. Getting the ball early.

End of 1st Quarter

15‘ END OF Q1 | Argentina capitalise on their big opportunity from the PC and go ahead, but India look threatening.

🇮🇳 0⃣- 1⃣🇦🇷#IndiaKaGame #INDvARG #SultanAzlanShahCup

Watch LIVE on Star Sports 1/1HD and Hotstar.

— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) March 3, 2018

In their last encounter with India, Argentina had beaten them 1-0 in the Hockey World League Semi-Finals in Bhubaneswar. 

The 2nd quarter begins.

That’s the end of the 1st quarter. Argentina lead 1-0. India had three field chances but muffed them up. And Argentina off a counter got a PC, their 2nd, to take the lead in the match.

Argentina have drawn first blood. India with the bulk of the attacking. But it’s Olympic Champions who lead with a PC goal. Argentina 1-0.

GOAL. GOAL. Argentina has scored off who else but Gonzalo Peillat. The flick going into the corner off the goalkeeper’s pads.

The umpire points to a 2nd PC.

Argentina now stretching the Indian defence. And they win the 1st PC of the match as India stick-checks inside the circle. Dangerous moment for India.

Argentina slowly trying to get into the match. But India holding in the midfield trying to find space again and create scoring chances. India need to play with a bit more pace. Argentina are looking rusty.

India doing some good defending through Surender Kumar.

India need to make the chances count.

Argentina lose the referral. It’s a free hit for India.

And it just might come here as Argentina want a referral. They are looking for a PC.

India making all the right moves here. But the goal is elusive. They still have to watch out for the Argentina counter.

India rotating at the back. Using high balls and long passes to create space. And what a miss from Nilam Xess. Right up there but the shot is saved by Juan Vivaldi.

Gurjant, Ramandeep and Sumit Kumar playing upfront.

The match begins. India already racing into the attack. But an error doesn’t give Ramandeep the chance to take first strike.

Moments away from the Tournament’s first match – India Vs Argentina.

India’s National Anthem. Young squad coupled with experience raring to go.

Tough game for India in these hot and humid conditions. Though one can always say these conditions suit India more than Argentina. For the team, a great opportunity to put it across the Olympic Champions and start the tournament on a winning note.

That’s the Argentina National Anthem playing now.

Today is the 50th match between India and Argentina. In the 49 played, India have won 26, drawn 4 and lost 19.

Here’s India’s starting line-up for the opening encounter 

Here is the starting line-up for Indian Men's Hockey Team as they lock horns with Argentina in the opening match of the 27th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup on 3rd March 2018. Catch the action LIVE on Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 HD and Hotstar from 1:30 PM IST.#IndiaKaGame pic.twitter.com/btkDRyBMUE

— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) March 3, 2018

Both teams are lining up. Sardar and Pedro Ibarra, captains, with the umpires right now. In a while, we will see them come on to the pitch for the National Anthems.

India get ready to face Argentina in the tournament opener 

Ready to take on Olympic Champions Argentina.#AzlanShahCup.#TheHockeyIndia pic.twitter.com/8WbBYaTzLH

— Sundeep Misra (@MisraSundeep) March 3, 2018

Welcome to the Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey Cup here in Ipoh.

It’s the start of what should be a very eventful year for Indian Hockey with the CWG, AG and the WC all lined up.

Today India take on Olympic Champions Argentina in around ten minutes times. India is back in the dressing room while the Argentines are still on the pitch. For India, Sardar Singh has made a comeback into the team, if you call that a comeback. He is the captain, in place of a rested Manpreet Singh. India will start with Krishan Pathak in goal with Sreejesh, India’s best goalkeeper also rested in preparation for the CWG and other tournaments.

Today’s fixtures

The prestigious 27th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh, Malaysia will begin on 3rd March. Here’s how the teams will face each other on the tournament’s opening day today. Watch LIVE on Star Sports 1/1HD and Hotstar. pic.twitter.com/jhQGU4TWhw

— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) March 3, 2018

Sardar Singh leads India in the opening match against Argentina

India will face Argentina in our opening match of the 27th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh, Malaysia on 3rd March. Tune in to Star Sports 1/1HD and Hotstar at 1:30 PM IST today and catch the action LIVE.#IndiaKaGame pic.twitter.com/7s4aB1B8TW

— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) March 3, 2018

India and Argentina kick off proceedings of this prestigious tournament happening in Ipoh, Malaysia.

Hello and welcome to Firstpost’s coverage of the opening day of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2018.