By Avishek Roy
New Delhi, March 12 (IANS) India failed to make their chances count as they went down 2-4 to Argentina in the play-off and finished eighth in the Hockey World Cup at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium here Friday.

India would be disappointed with their loss as they dominated the first half but with no success. It was Argentina who opened the scoring through Tomas Innocente Argento (28th minute) to go 1-0 up in the first half.

India scored the equaliser through Sandeep Singh’s (42nd) penalty stroke before Argentina’s three-goal burst in three minutes took the game away from the hosts.

Lucas Martin Vila (43rd, 45th) first converted a penalty corner and then scored a field goal. Facundo Callioni (46th) joined the party to make it 4-1 for Argentina.

Shivendra Singh (49th) pulled one back but it was too little and too late.

Argentina thus maintained their superior record against India in the World Cup. They have now beaten India five times in eight meetings.

India had finished 11th in the previous World Cup at Monchengladbach and they improved their position by three rungs, but would be disappointed as they they had hoped for a better finish at home. The only win for the hosts came in their opening match against arch-rivals Pakistan.

Nevertheless, it was India’s best finish in 16 years. India came fifth in 1982 and 1994, and have only slipped thereafer. They finished ninth in 1998 and 10th in 2002.

Argentina, on the other hand, also improved by three places compared to their 10th place finish in the previous edition.

India failed to take advantage of their quick moves in the first half. Sandeep Singh, who has been out of touch in the tournament, missed two penalty corners in the opening session. In fact, most of the play before the breather was in Argentine half, but Indian forward line looked clueless at the top of the circle. Argentina defended well and struck when the chance came.

Argento made the most of one such move, putting it past Indian goalkeeper Adrian D’souza.

India were awarded a penalty stroke in the second half after a harsh tackle from Matias Vila on Vikram Pillay. Argentina went for video referral but without success.

Sandeep this time made no mistake in converting stroke.

But a minute later India faced an Argentine backlash and were soon down three goals.

An unmarked Vila put Argentina ahead after Mario Almada’s great run into the circle set the ball for him.

Villa then converted a penalty corner and Callioni, taking advantage of a disorganised defence, slotted home.

Shivendra Singh scored through a rebound latching onto a Rajpal Singh pass to end the blitz six minutes that saw five goals.

India stepped up the attack and once Rajpal’s flick hit the woodwork, but that was it.