Late surge too less for India as Australia all the way
India made huge efforts in the last quarter to realize their dream of drawing or defeating dominating Australia to enter their maiden Champions Trophy final, but it turned to be too late and too few, as the reigning World Cup holders raced to a comfortable 4-2 win.
Photo courtesy: FIH/Getty Image
After a barren half, in which both team spent their energy to explore each other, Australia struck a brace of goals to relax 2-0 in their favour at half time.
When they led 3-0 midway, it appeared another whitewash was waiting to happen, but India woke up with a goal from Raghunath with a immaculate penalty corner conversion in the 44th minute.
This 44th minute spurred Indians though the minute was conspicuous for events, even Christian White tap in a slow rolling ball from behind goalie.
India waged a grim battle in the last quarter, and had the Aussies on their feet, but a good goalkeeping and defence by players like Dawson, saw less damage for the ultimate winners.
In this spell, Mandeep Singh at last came to his own to deflect an opportunistic diagonal push by Talwinder from top of the circle.
India actually struck both the goals in the space of three minutes, last minute before the 3rd quarter and within first two minutes of last quarter.
However, India played its best game in this quarter. A Danish Mujtaba’s surge met aweinspiring goalie, and then a good cross was not utilized by any of the Indian defenders.
India was largely subdued in the second quarter, and allowed enough elbow room for the marauding Aussie’s forwards particularly Burnburry boy Aran and fleet footed Glenn Turner.
The former’s dive to deflect Trent Mitton’s feed deserved goalcage entry, but usually alert Sreejesh would have none of it, jumped to his right to save the blues.
India now need to wait for the last match between Great Britain and Belgium, whose result can still offer a fairy tale chance for India to be in the final.