The Indian women’s hockey team came from two goals down to beat the USA 3-2 in their first Pool A match of the FIH Nations Cup in Auckland on Monday.Deepika scored two goals for India, while Navneet Kaur scored the third goal. Ashley Sessa and Madeline Zimmer scored for the USA. The winner of the Nations Cup will gain promotion to the FIH Pro League, from which India were knocked out last season.The USA got off to a fast start and Ashley Sesa scored a field goal in the fourth minute to take the lead.Three minutes later, the Americans extended their lead as Madeleine Zimmer converted a seventh-minute penalty corner to make it 2-0.India gradually settled into the match and found a way back in the second quarter. Drag flicker Deepika reduced the deficit by converting a penalty corner into a goal in the 17th minute.India continued to put pressure on the US defense and earned another penalty corner midway through the quarter. Deepika then stepped up and scored in the 24th minute to level the scores at 2-2.The comeback was completed before halftime. Navneet Kaur scored a penalty corner in the 28th minute to put India up 3-2 and give the team a one-goal lead at the break.The second half was tightly contested, with both teams looking for a goal. India and USA won six penalty corners during the match but neither team managed to score again in the last two quarters.India defended their lead in the closing stages to take all three points and start their Nations Cup campaign with a win.After the result, India moved to second place in Pool A with three points, level with Japan, who lead the standings on goal difference.
