Paris: A goal from Spain skipper Marc Miralles opened the scoring, following which Indian skipper Harmanpreet Singh provided two goals of his own later on to power India to yet another bronze medal.
With thir triumph, India’s medal tally in the Paris Olympics goes up to 4, with all 4 being bronzes so far.
India started off the match on an attacking note, pressing up high across the halfway line and piling the pressure on Spain’s defense with menacing runs.
The tactic worked as India were well into the Spanish’s final third within the first five minutes as Sukhjeet Singh took India’s first swipe at goal in the 6th minute of the first quarter.
India were relentless with their attack, but Spain maintained their composure, defending with grit and patience, almost in a manner where they were tempting the Indians to take their best shot.
But, nothing would come out the first quarter as the sides would go in at a score-less tie.
The confidence that Spain were riding along with continued to power them into the second quarter, as an incisive attack from Gerard Clapes would ultimately lead to a foul from the returning Amit Rohidas, awarding a penalty to Spain.
With PR Sreejesh, who was playing his last ever international game for India, in goal, Spain skipper Marc Miralles would find the top left corner with ease and put his side ahead 1-0.
India would then resort to a mode of panic, as the momentum swung towards the Spainiards, who began to play their own gmae withour much retaliation from the Indians.
Hardik Singh would finally find some leeway, as India raced into an attack, and took their most menacing attempt at goal in the 9th minute of the second quarter. But, the Spainiards would find an almost instant answer, slicing through the right flank of India and toying with Sumit, only to just miss out on the final touch to score the second goal they could have had.
India would come alive in the last minutes of the second quarter, winning multiple penalty corners and freekicks, and with 14 .6 seconds left on the clock, skipper Harmanpreet Singh would once again rise to the occasion and hammer one into goal to tie up the game at 1-1 as both teams went into halftime all level.
Having broken into the defensive ranks and the psyche of the Spainish players, India came out with confidence in the third quarter.
Soon enough, within three minutes of play, the Men in Blue won yet another penalty corner, and it was once again Harmanpreet Singh, who would slot it home to give India the 2-1 lead.
A dominant India maintained control of the game then onwards, menacing Spain with passes galore, and controlling the tempo at their will.
Spain would scramble all through the quarter, up until the 10th minute of the third quarter, where they would be awarded a penalty corner, and would score to equalise, only for the goal to be ruled out upon review, as both teams would enter the final quarter of play with India holding the slender lead.
With all to play for in the final quarter, the trailing Spaniards would come out with more attacking intensity both tactically and physically, as they took it to the Indians to break through their ranks in any way possible.
But the resilient Indians never gave in, battling it out and leaving it all on the floor, to hold off the fiery Spaniards who were awarded multiple penalty corners in the dying minutes, to close out the game and clinch the Bronze medal.
