A euphoric Ireland makes it to the semifinals of the Hockey World Cup for the first time ever, after a dramatic shootout victory (3-1) over India. What a feat by the second-lowest ranked team in the tournament! Ireland will take on Spain in the semifinals.
Ireland wins! Chloe Watkins scores her penalty with only 0.4 seconds left to go on the penalty clock.
Reena Khokhar keeps India alive as she puts the ball past McFerran.
Alison Meeke makes it two for Ireland as she puts the ball between Savita's legs and into the goal.
Navjot Kaur can't level it for India. She tries a cheeky turn but McFerran makes a fantastic save.
Ireland takes the lead.
The scores are still at a deadlock. Monica misses her penalty for India.
Savita saves another one! Ireland appeals for a penalty stroke but they don't get it.
India also misses its first penalty. Rani tries to slalom her way around but McFerran gets a stick to the ball.
Ireland misses its first. Good work from Indian goalkeeper Savita as she closes down the space for Daly to shoot.
Savita takes her place under the crossbar. Daly first up for Ireland.
The teams go into huddles before the shootout. It'll be down to a game of nerves and skill.
60' We are headed for a shootout. Normal time ends with no goals. Not even a clear-cut chance!
We're in the final minute. Still no goals.
57' Udita gets a green card and India will be down to 10 players for 2 minutes. Just 3 minutes to go.
53' The game has opened up a bit more as the fatigue kicks in. Both teams are having good spells in attack. India has had the better chances this quarter.
50' The ball is cleared. The penalty corner doesn't amount to anything. We're still deadlocked.
49' First penalty corner of the match for India.
We are into the final quarter. Still looks like the match could go beyond the hour.
45' It's the end of the third quarter. The match has made some progress from a midfield battle. Both teams have ventured into the opponent's half but the final passes have been shabby.
42' No team has been able to stamp authority over the game so far. Only one penalty corner so far!
38' Ireland has a good spell of possession in India's half after a quick attack but it amounts to nothing.
36' It's been cagey so far. The ball's mostly been seen in the middle of the field.
The second half is underway. Will we see a goal this half or will it go into a shootout?
30' Off goes the hooter and that's the end of the first half.
27' Three minutes left in the first half and Ireland look all the more menacing now. A goal is certainly in the offing!
24' It's Ireland back in the attack now, but the Indian defence has held fort convincingly so far.
21' Neha Goyal picks up a green card and will serve a two minute suspension.
20' The Indians are pressing hard now and are seeing a lot more possession.
18' Ireland's Chloe Watkins has had a great game so far. She's made some key interceptions and has really upped the ante.
Fun fact: Neither goalkeeper has had to make a single save in the opening quarter!
15' And that's the end of the first quarter. Ireland has looked the better side so far, with the Indians struggling to stitch passes up front.
13' Less than two minutes left in the first quarter here.
10' Navjot Kaur displays some fine skills at the other end but the move fails to produce any real threat.
8' Ireland has been doing the bulk of the attacking so far.
5' It's been an entertaining first five minutes with neither team able to create a clear scoring chance.
2' Two and a half minutes into the tie and Ireland has earned its first Penalty Corner.
The players are out on the pitch and the national anthems have been sung. IT'S GAME TIME!
We're less than 10 minutes way from action! What are your predictions? Do you think India can reach a historic semifinal or will the Irish continue their stellar run?
Here are the squads for both teams:
Its erratic campaign back on track, the Indian women’s hockey team would now be aiming to secure its first Women's Hockey World Cup semifinal spot in 44 years by extracting revenge from giant-killer Ireland in the last-eight stage on Thursday.
India registered its first win of the tournament by sailing past Italy in a quarterfinal playoff on Tuesday night and if it manages to beat Ireland, it would ensure it only its second appearance in the World Cup last-four.
The only time India had managed to enter the semifinals of the showpiece event was back in 1974 in Mandelieu, France, where it, eventually, finished fourth. In the last edition of the tournament in Rosario, Argentina, India had finished a disappointing eighth.
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