New Delhi: The Indian women's hockey team completed a clean sweep in their four-Test series against Azerbaijan after notching up a 2-0 victory in the fourth and final match in New Delhi on Thursday.
The Indian women were not at their best but still prevailed over the visitors after they scored twice in the second half through Jaspreet Kaur (44th minute) and Rani Rampaul (68th).
With this victory, India kept their slate clean after having defeated the visitors with margins of 3-0, 2-1 and 3-0 in the first three Tests at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium this week.
After playing out a goalless first-half, Jaspreet, who missed the third Test due to back pain, put India ahead, scoring on a penalty shot which the home team earned after Rani Rampaul's shot hit a defender near the goal-mouth.
Rani, who had injured her hand and missed the last match, was once again in action in the dying moments of the Test when she deflected in a diagonal cross from skipper Asunta Lakra from the right to seal the match 2-0.
Azerbaijan had their moments and had, in fact, earned their first penalty corner as early as the ninth minute, but they couldn't make it count.
Towards the end of the first half, India too had earned a penalty corner, but Lakra was too late to react. On a counter-attack, the visitors also earned a chance to score from a set piece, only to squander the opportunity.
Few minutes after the first goal, India had earned another chance but failed to capitalise, with Jaspreet hitting wide of the goalpost.
Looking for an equaliser, Azerbaijan created a few opportunities in the second half and even earned a penalty corner in the 60th minute, but Khatira Aliyeva couldn't get past Indian goalkeeper Savita, who staved off the effort.
India coach CR Kumar said he was happy that his team was able to win all the matches and hoped that they will peak in the next four weeks before the Olympic qualifiers get underway on February 18.
"Winning all the matches was very satisfying but we missed a lot of penalty corners and we need to work hard and improve on a few areas in the next four weeks," Kumar told reporters after the match.
"Unfortunately a few players were injured and didn't recover in time. Chanchan (Devi) had a collarbone fracture and (is) still not up to the competition level, Joydeep (Kaur), Mukta (Barla) and Rani recovered, so rest is okay. I am hopeful, they will peak before the qualifiers," he added.
Asked what would be his priority in the next four weeks, Kumar said: "Now the plan will be to focus mainly on the fitness, the penalty corner conversions and the speed of the players."
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