Hockey World Cup: India eves hold USA to 1-1 draw; enter playoffs

Rani Rampal

The under pressure Indian women's hockey team produced a spirited performance to come back from a goal down and hold higher-ranked USA to a 1-1 draw in their last Pool B match and progress to the knock-out stages of the World Cup here yesterday.

The draw enabled India too keep their campaign afloat in the tournament and progress to the cross overs while the Americans crashed out of the event. As per the rules of the tournament the top teams from the four pools progress directly to the quarterfinals while the second and third placed teams will feature in the cross overs to decide the remaining four spots of the last eight round.

Margaux Paolino broke the deadlock for world No. 7 USA in the 11th minute putting the Indians on the backfoot straightaway. However, led ably by skipper Rani Rampal, the Indian girls equalised in the 31st minute - Rampal scoring the all-important equaliser for her team.

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