Rani Rampal is all smiles after the draw. She was wincing in pain in the first quarter. For a while, it looked like she wasn’t going to play further. But she returned and scored the all-important equaliser to save her team. “Both teams fought really hard,” she says after the game. “But credit goes to our team for holding off USA in the last quarter.”

IT’S ALL OVER FOR USA! India still in the tournament after a 1-1 draw. The women in blue haven’t been playing their best hockey but they sneak through to play the crossover. Needing a win (and nothing less), USA came out all guns blazing in the first quarter and got an early lead. But India were a much improved side in the second half. The early equaliser helped them gain more confidence and in the last two quarters, they played some of their best hockey.

Final quarter (4 minutes to go) India 1-1 USA: USA search in futile for the goal that will keep them in the tournament. Their coach is bellowing from the sideline. Oh dear, Ashley Hoffman gets a yellow card! This means USA will play with just 10 players for the remainder of the match. They mightn’t take off their goalie now for the extra attacking option.

Final quarter (7 minutes to go) India 1-1 USA: India are happy to pass around. They aren’t going on an all out attack. They realise that the Americans don’t have much time.

Final quarter (9 minutes to go) India 1-1 USA: India aren’t allowing USA to attack at all. Their circle penetrations have become fewer in the last quarter. They are on the backfoot. And they have got about eight minutes to save themselves from elimination.

Final quarter (11 minutes to go) India 1-1 USA: India makes a good counterattack. Navjot Kaur, with defenders rushing towards her, flicks the ball desperately but the ball goes just above the American net. The scores are still level.

Final quarter (11 minutes to go) India 1-1 USA: Circle penetrations at the moment, India trail USA by 17-21.

Final quarter (13 minutes to go) India 1-1 USA: Early penalty corner for India. Seventh one for India. Rani traps the injection. Gurjit strikes it well but Briggs puts in a desperate dive towards her right to keep the ball away. She’s pumped up.

End of third quarter, Easily the best quarter for India. Rani Rampal returned to the pitch after injuring her ankle. She hasn’t been able to play at her best. But she, regardless, has saved her team again with a superb Penalty Corner conversion. It’s USA’s turn to come all out in the final quarter.

Third quarter (1 minutes to go) India 1-1 USA: It’s raining again at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre. Both teams are engaged in a midfield battle. India and USA trying to get the lead again.

Third quarter (4 minutes to go) India 1-1 USA: Mellisa Gonzalez out for two minutes with a green card. Can the women in blue capitalise on this situation? Sunita Lakra comes close to the American net. But their defenders save them from India taking the lead.

Third quarter (6 minutes to go) India 1-1 USA: Both teams pressing hard. But none of them have managed to come close to scoring a goal after India’s equaliser. India have had more possession in the last few minutes.

Third quarter (9 minutes to go) India 1-1 USA: As of now, Circle Penetrations: India 14, USA 18.

Third quarter (10 minutes to go) India 1-1 USA: Indian midfield looks more spirited after the equaliser. They penetrate the American circle. But the USA women scramble to somehow keep the ball away.

GOAL! Rani Rampal has brought India back in this match by converting India’s sixth penalty corner. India earn a penalty corner early in the third quarter. Rani receives the injection, pauses for a bit and strikes at the perfect moment to beat ‘keeper Briggs, who desite diving rightwards misses the strike.

Alright, we are back for the second half. India haven’t played badly. But they haven’t played at their best. They need to equalise early...

End of first half, Rani and Co are fighting hard to stay alive in this match (and in the World Cup). But the game’s in USA’s control. The Americans have been more positive after taking the early lead. They have had more possession, earned more PCs and came close to doubling their lead. India need something special in the second half to turn this game around.

Second quarter (1 minutes to go) India 0-1 USA: Another PC for the US women. Kathleen Sharkey takes the strike this time and it goes too close to the goal. USA could have doubled their lead. But India are still trailing and are under pressure.

Second quarter (3 minutes to go) India 0-1 USA: Vittese throws the kitchen sink whilst taking the PC. But it misses everyone and goes wide (to the keeper’s right) of the net.

Second quarter (3 minutes to go) India 0-1 USA: Ultra-scramble by USA for a goal. There was a huge crowd in front of Savita. USA get a Penalty Corner. India refer it. Touch and go. India lose their referral. PC for USA.

Second quarter (7 minutes to go) India 0-1 USA: Indian coach Sjoerd Marijne’s animated in the Indian dug out after Lalremsiami gets a green card. India will only have 10 players on the field for the next two minutes. Cant the Americans take advantage?

Second quarter (12 minutes to go) India 0-1 USA: USA miss their first PC. Good defence by India. The women in blue still trail by a goal though.

Second quarter (12 minutes to go) India 0-1 USA: Paolino almost gets another goal. But a poor first touch gives enough time for the Indian defence to thwart her. But the effort earns USA their first PC

Second quarter (12 minutes to go) India 0-1 USA: Green card for Deepika. Rani and Navneet play a good one-two but the Indian captain fails to finish despite getting close to the USA net.

First quarter ends, USA have stolen the lead. Things aren’t going well for the women in blue with the captain’s injury and three PCs not going their way.

First quarter (1 minute to go) India 0-1 USA: PC again. Third one of the game for India. Navneet injects, Gurjit strikes... but it goes a little wide.

First quarter (2 minutes to go) India 0-1 USA: Another PC for India! Second one of the game. Navneet Kaur to inject. Gurjit Kaur strikes well. But Jackie Briggs dives to her left to block the ball. USA still ahead.

And, Rani is not missing the game. She’s back in the game.

GOAL! Margaux Paolino puts USA ahead! The Americans, once again, penetrated the Indian circle. They get real close. Melissa Gonzalez tries to beat Savita but fails. But Paolino senses the opportunity and gets the ball in between the Indian ‘keeper’s legs. As things stand, India’s going home... They need to equalise quickly.

First quarter (7 minutes to go) India 0-0 USA: Rani’s left ankle’s being heavily plastered. Coach Sjoerd Marijne’s talking to her as well. USA, meanwhile, are penetrating the Indian circle more often. A slight tilt in the momentum of the game in USA’s favour. And, India miss their first penalty corner of the match.

First quarter (9 minutes to go) India 0-0 USA: The Americans have taken advantage of Rani’s temporary exit from the game. The possession is almost even now.

First quarter (11 minutes to go) India 0-0 USA: Dear o dear, skipper Rani Rampal, it looks like, has twisted her left ankle. Seems like a serious injury. Will be a huge blow for India if she doesn’t recover quickly.

First quarter (13 minutes to go) India 0-0 USA: India in control, make inroads into the American circle. They have started well. The American defence being put to test early on.

USA:-

vs Ireland 1-3

vs England 1-1

INDIA:-

vs England 1-1

vs Ireland 0-1

9:28 pm Both teams walk out to the field. Time for the national anthems. There’s a little bit of rain at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre.

Captain Rani says it’s a do or die game and her team’s gonna go all out against the United States.

Starting line-up for tonight’s game:-

09:00 pm Good evening, ladies and gents. There’s nothing like two teams fighting for survival in a big tournament. As India and USA drew and lost their two matches, this one tonight has become a knockout. India can survive elimination if they get a draw because of a marginally better goal difference. But the Americans need to win this to stay alive. And, despite ranked lower, they have a chance to stun the women in blue as the latter haven’t been at their best so far. But will Rani and company redeem their chances in the tournament tonight?