Olympics-Hockey-Harmanpreet strikes again to save India, Dutch women come from behind to topple Germany

By Forrest Crellin

PARIS (Reuters) -India skipper Harmanpreet Singh scored a late goal for the second game in a row to force a 1-1 draw with Argentina in Pool B of the men's hockey at the Paris Olympics on Monday, while the Dutch women came from behind to top Germany 2-1 in Pool A.

A determined German team put the top ranked Dutch squad on their heels with a third quarter strike after dominating time of possession, but a set piece goal by Dutch forward Yibbi Jansen quickly followed, with Marijn Veen netting the winner just four minutes later.

"We were 1-0 down, so we really had to score. I think we got loose with the nerves, and we just put pressure higher on the field," said Yibbi, the current top women's goal scorer with five goals from penalty corners.

"Germany definitely challenged us today, and we will have challenges in the upcoming games as well. Nobody said it was going to be an easy ride. Every game is a challenge."

In the men's games, Indian dragflick specialist Harmanpreet struck in the penultimate minute of India's second game to level the score against Argentina, matching his heroics from Saturday when he netted a late winner against New Zealand with a penalty stroke.

"I think we create so many chances, we are going into the circle and getting some good pieces but the finishing was not there today," Harmanpreet said.

Belgium, defending Olympic champions, and Australia top the men's Pool B after the Kookaburras' earlier 2-1 win over Ireland. India are in third place with four points, Argentina are fourth with a single point. The top four from each group go through to the quarter-finals.

The Dutch women, gold medallists in Tokyo, top Pool A with Belgium after The Red Panthers beat hosts France 5-0 in the other evening game, while China also ran up the score against Japan with a 5-0 win for a third place tie with Germany.

Argentina's women's squad came back twice from a goal down to beat South Africa 4-2 in a Pool B win that was put away in the 53rd minute with a strong shot by Julieta Janukas, and Australia thrashed Britain 4-0.

The United States also secured a hardfought 1-1 draw with Spain in the other Pool B game to secure their first point of the Games, with a tough challenge against Australia set for Wednesday.

(Reporting by Forrest Crellin; Editing by Alison Williams and Christian Radnedge)