Men's FIH Pro League: India Go Down To Australia 4-6 In Goal Fest

Add as a preferred source on Google

Indian hockey team goes down fighting against Australia as the hosts lost 4-6 in the latest Men's FIH Pro League match in Bhubaneswar on Thursday (February 15). Australia scored thrice in the final quarter to take the game.

Before that, skipper Harmanpreet Singh scored a brace by the half time, giving India 4-2 lead over the mighty Australians. Sukhjeet Singh (18th) and Mandeep Singh (29th) were the other goalscorers for India.

Blake Govers struck twice for Australia in the second minute besides Aran Zalewski (40th), Lahlan Sharp (52nd), Jacon Anderson (55th) and Jack Welch (58th). With Govers giving the visitors a 2-0 lead in the second minute of play, the Kookaburras surprised India early in the game.

Australia's first penalty corner goal was scored by him past India goalkeeper Krishan Bahadur Pathak. He then extended his team's lead with an unstoppable shot beyond the goalie.

The first ten minutes saw the Kookaburras apply full pressure and quickly earn another penalty corner, but the Indians held strong. It was relentless pressure from Australia and it took a save from Pathak to deny Welch from a penalty corner.

In the 12th minute, India secured their first penalty corner and Harmanpreet made no mistake, firing in with a rocket flick which Australia goalkeeper Andrew Charter had no answer to. India grew in confidence with the goal and started to dominate the proceedings and minutes later Abhishek' shot from Sukhjeet's feed was saved by Charter.

The hosts continued their attacking game and secured their second penalty corner soon but it was wasted. Sukhjeet levelled the scores for India in the 18th minute, putting in a wobbly ball from Abhishek.

Two minutes later, Harmanpreet gave India the lead converting another penalty corner and then a minute from half-time Mandeep scored with a bullet shot from top of the D after receiving a defence splitting 45 degree ball from his skipper.

Trailing by two goals, Australia pressed hard after the change of ends and earned a couple of penalty corners and from one such chance, Zalewski deflected in Goovers flick.

The fourth and final quarter completely belonged to Australia as they pumped in three more goals through Sharp, Anderson and Welch to pocket three points from the game.
India will next play Ireland here on Friday.

-With inputs from PTI