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Sports Shorts: India eves clinch hockey Test series vs Ireland

The Indian eves completed their Ireland tour with a 2-2 draw against the home team in the third and final hockey Test in Dublin on Friday.

India won the three-match series 2-0.

India had earlier defeated Ireland 3-1 and 2-1 in the first two Tests of the tour, organised as part of the team's preparation for the FIH Champions Challenge 1 beginning April 27 in Glasgow, Scotland.

While India's Chan Chan Devi scored both the goals for India, Anna O'Flanagan found the back of the net twice for the hosts.

The third and final Test of the series started on a pacy note with both the teams adopting an attacking approach. It was Ireland who broke the deadlock in the seventh minute through O'Flanagan.

India drew in the 31st minute through Chan Chan Devi to go into the breather locked at 1-1.

After the corssover, both the teams pressed hard in search of goals and it was India who eventually succeeded when Chan Chan Devi converted a penalty corner to score her second goal of the day.

Ireland, however, equalised just six minutes from the final hooter through O'Flanagan (64th minute), who pounced on a rebound after the initial shot was saved by India goalkeeper

Savita.

 

Atletico march forth toward La Liga title after winning heated match

Atletico Madrid stayed firmly on course for a surprise La Liga title triumph when a Miranda header and Diego Costa's late penalty secured an unconvincing 2-0 win for the leaders at home to Elche on Friday.

David Villa had a penalty saved shortly after halftime at a raucous Calderon stadium, packed with fans enjoying their team's best season in nearly 20 years, and nerves were jangling when centre back Miranda rose at the back post to nod a Jose Sosa corner powerfully into the net 18 minutes from time.

Costa was felled by Elche defender Cristian Sapunaru, who earned a second yellow card and was sent off, in the 90th minute and the Brazil-born forward stroked the ball into the net for his 27th La Liga goal of the campaign, one fewer than leading marksman Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid.

The victory stretched Atletico’s lead over second-placed Real, whose game at Real Valladolid has been moved to May 7, to six points. Champions Barcelona, who host fourth-placed Athletic Bilbao on Sunday, are a further point behind in third.

If they win their next three matches, they will be assured of the title by the time they run out at Barca's Nou Camp stadium for the final game of the campaign.

Before the trip to the Catalan capital, they face tough games at Valencia and Levante and a home match against Malaga.

Alicante-based Elche, promoted from the second division last term, are four points above the relegation places in 15th place.