Santiago (Chile), Dec 10 (UNI) India survived a last-second equaliser to defeat Uruguay 3–1 in a shootout after a 1–1 draw in their 9/12 classification match at the FIH Hockey Junior Women’s World Cup 2025.
According to Olympics.com, Manisha (19′) scored for India before Justina Arregui (60′) converted a penalty stroke with just two seconds left, pushing the match at the Centro Deportivo de Hockey Césped, Estadio Nacional into a shootout.
India dominated possession from the outset, creating early pressure and multiple circle entries. Uruguay, however, earned the first penalty corner in the fifth minute but failed to take a decisive shot.
India responded with a well-worked penalty-corner variation in the 18th minute, but Sakshi Rana’s shot was blocked. Moments later, Manisha broke the deadlock with a powerful strike from distance to give India a 1–0 lead. The Indians recorded 11 circle penetrations in the first half, while Uruguay sat deep in a defensive shell.
The pattern continued after the break, with India maintaining a high line and forcing Uruguay back, but they failed to extend the lead despite earning back-to-back penalty corners midway through the third quarter.
The final quarter brought end-to-end play as Uruguay pushed forward. In the 49th minute, goalkeeper Nidhi produced a superb save off a penalty corner to preserve India’s advantage.
Uruguay removed its goalkeeper in the final minutes to add an extra outfield player, and the move paid off dramatically. With two seconds remaining, they earned a penalty stroke, which Arregui calmly converted to make it 1–1.
In the shootout, India held their nerve. Purnima Yadav, Ishika, and Kanika Siwach scored, while goalkeeper Nidhi denied Uruguay thrice to seal a 3–1 win and India’s progression to the 9th/10th place playoff.
India will next face Spain on Thursday in their final classification match.
India beat Uruguay in shootout after last-second equaliser
