s2h team
What a match! The fighting Australians snatched a win from the hands of the visiting Indians, who held their nerves all along, took 4-3 lead despite trailing often before the well-known last minute disaster had struck them. Blake Govers who was seen struggling with penalty corners in the first three quarters, came alive in the last, striking a brace to put paid to the Indian hopes. A hattrick by Tokyo discard Akashdeep Singh went in vain while Tom Craig, who set up almost all goals for his team walked away with the Man of the Match epithet. The label was befitting.
The first-ever India-Australia Series after 2019 was expected to be a cracker, and it was today.
Very early on, Tom Craig set up Lalchan Sharp for the opening goal (1-0, 5th min), it was a steal from circle to circle. Sharp struck from top edge of the circle of Tom’s swift pass, even as the ball was in motion, and at least three defenders were chasing it.
Akashdeep Singh redeemed India and himself course when sent the ball past Benjamin Rennie, the rival goalie (1-1) in the 10th minute.
Jarmanpreet Singh and Krishan Pathak try to save a goal. Pic Courtesy Hockey India
Tom Craig it was again who got past a host of defenders before effecting a gentle cross and falling near the backline. All Nathan had to do was to place the ball, which he did neatly off Krishan Pathak (2-1, 21st min)
Both teams were pressing hard, making all round efforts to preach others’ citadel with sharp passes and nippy rundowns.
Three minutes before lemon time, Akashdeep neutralized the Aussie’s lead with an immaculate acute angle push. It was an aesthetic goal the way Akashdeep controlled the ball amidst a maze of legs and then the forehand was too arithmatic for Rennig to stop (2-2, 27th min)
Within seconds from resumption, Harmapreet Singh converted an indirect penalty corner manoevure to give India lead (3-2, 31st min) for the first time for his side.
However, the battle of penalty corners started with that. While the first half saw all four goals coming from field efforts, the second half saw four of the five goals coming from penalty corners.
Both were on equal terms in the quarter too, before it changed in the last quarter. This spell saw a bit more physical, leading to a yellow card for Jake Whetton, who also conceded a penalty corner from near right flag area. Not to be undone India too got cards, a green each for Jarmanpreet Singh (55th min), and captain himself 2 minutes later.
Its in the period that the guile Australian stole the game from the clutches of death.
Blake Grovers, who was struggling with penalty corners, made amends with the 57th minute thunder (4-3). When Akashdeep Singh nullified that two minutes later, the match was fittingly crushing for a thrilling draw. However, never losers as they are, the hosts went on the offence, held the hope and the ball, and got a penalty corner when Blake Grovers’s hot hit the closely marking Jarmanpreet Singh, who had just returned to the field after green card suspension.
Just two seconds remained on the clock. Blake Grovers took the drag, was seen flying wide but it was after hitting charger Manpreet Singh. Therefore, the fatal penalty corner was given again.
The rest is history.
Next match is tomorrow 11.00 hrs IST.