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India

France defeated India 2-1 in the second Junior (U-21) hockey Test match played at the Gachibowli Hockey Complex here today.

After a barren first half, Moreau Antonine put the visitors ahead in the 50th minute while Gouedard Conte extented the lead seven minutes later.

Nitya Jayanand reduced the margin in the 68th minute but the Frenchmen went on to win the second Test, two days after they thrashed the hosts 5-0 in the first Test.

Improving the game by a few notches, India rose to the occasion and held the French in the first half to return tied goalless at the breather.

The tempo of the game remained the same even in the initial stages of the second half but Anotnine drew first blood for the visitors when he converted the penalty corner with clinical precision.

Conte made most of lead and dribbled past Indian defenders to score a spectacular field goal within six minutes and to swell the lead 2-0.

At a time when the match appeared to be closing, a late resurgence from the Indian camp saw Jayanand breach the French defence to find the net in the dying moments. This was the only goal scored by the Indians in the two-Test series.

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