HWL 2015:Refreshing stuff in 1-1 draw of India and Germany

India’s sudden found attacking flavour and error free show caught the equally aggressive and hardly erring Germans unawares, who despite scoring a goal in the very second minute of the game, had to be contended with a 1-1 draw in the third match of Day Two of the Hockey World League here in Raipur, India.

When almost half a dozen Indian players watched, giving little effort to block, alert Niklas Wellen scored an easy goal what was expected was an usual Indian rout.

In the end, the sixth minute goal seemed an aberration, as Indians changed the gear for once and were all over their rivals for most part of the game.

They showed verve in their attack with good ball possession skilss.

Despite winger SV Sunil injured and had to be rested, India showed gumption and grit in weaving cobweb around otherwise accurate and geometric defenders led by none other than Moritz Furste.

Moritz, who got injured seriously on the kneel yesterday, who had to be taken out of field in a stretcher, played full time today showing what it takes to play for the team. He did not take rest. The rest actually was taken by Nicholas Jacobi, their main goalie. Instead, lanky Andreas Spack guarded the cage full time.

In the fourth quarter, after coming close to strike at least five times, Akashdeep Singh tapped the ball in to the cage (47th Min) for India’s first goal in two matches.

Its Birendra Lakra, much like Raghunath in the first two quarters, who surged ahead on the left flank, and combined beautifully with hardworking Manpreet Singh to create the goal opportunity.

Shortly later, Ramandeep Singh, who missed a sitter in the very first minute of the game, got a yellow card punishment.

Its Birendra Lakra who rose to the occasion when India played with a player less, even coming upfront to pep up the attack, with that the morale of the team too.

Manpreet Singh put his heart out in tackling. Akashdeep Singh and Sardar Singh really showed some extraordinary alertness when they snatched the ball from under the nose of rival defenders and making their intension clear: Today is different from yesterday.

India and Germany were cautious not to give away penalty corners: both got solitary one.

Danger seemed lurking when in the last minute Raghunath too got yellow card, but alert India warded off two good attacks from German right wing, and then when they almost threatened the hooter came.

Its second draw for Germany which drew Netherlands yesterday

In the other same pool, Argentina seemed vulnerable to clinical finish of Netherlands when they took 3-0 lead but Argentina converting two of the three penalty corners it got, got the score line narrower (2-3).

However full points for Netherlands despite not playing experienced goalie Jaap Stockmann.

In the first match of the day, Australia survived a Belgium scare before a goal by Jamie Dwyer giving victory.