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FIH Pro League (W): India beat USA 4-0, finish third debut season

India secured third place in their debut FIH Hockey Pro League campaign. Hockey India

The Indian women's hockey team produced a dominating performance to outclass USA 4-0 in the second-leg match to finish a creditable third in their debut season at the FIH Pro League on Wednesday.

India had earlier defeated USA 4-2 in the first match of the double header on Tuesday.

Vandana Katariya (39th, 54th) scored a brace, while Sonika (54th) and Sangita Kumari (58th) converted their chances for India.

Argentina have already won the title with Netherlands finishing second.

USA started the match on a bright note and secured the first chance of the match as early as in the second minute, but Elizabeth Yeager's high shot was saved by India skipper and goalkeeper Savita.

India too had their chances soon after but Sharmila Devi wasted a golden opportunity as she failed to beat USA goalkeeper from close range.

As usual, Salima Tete was a live wire from the right flank, creating chances for her side with her defence-splitting runs.

USA once again started positively after the quarter break but India drew in confidence as the match progressed. They secured their first penalty corner in the 23rd minute but failed to execute the set piece.

India continued to attack and earned two more penalty corners but the end result was the same as both the teams failed to break the deadlock at half-time.

Three minutes into the third quarter, India secured a penalty corner but Navneet Kaur's trap shot after initial fumble from the stopper was saved by USA goalkeeper Kelsey Bing.

But it was Janneke Schopman's team who broke the deadlock in the 39th minute when Vandana got a faint touch to deflect in Gurjit Kaur's flick from India's fifth penalty corner.

India had numerous chances in the last two quarters. Navneet missed a sitter as her slap shot in front of an open goal went over the post. They then scored three goals in a span of four minutes to seal the match.

First, Vandana scored an open goal from a build up from the right flank and then seconds later, Sonika found the net from a goalmouth melee after another attack from the right. Sangita too registered her name in the scoresheet with a fabulous field goal in the 57th minute.

The last chance of the match fell before USA in the form of another penalty corner but they wasted it.

The win will boost India's confidence ahead of the Women's World Cup to be co-hosted by the Netherlands and Spain from July 1 to 17.