S2H TEAM
Great Britain won a riveting FIH Pro League encounter against India 3-2 in a scoring sequence eerily matching the women’s match played earlier at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre in London on Sunday. India finished their league engagements with 24 points from 16 matches and sit momentarily in fourth position. GB have six more to play and are in fifth with 19 points. Both teams have qualified for next month’s Paris Olympics and find themselves in opposite pools.
Just 38 seconds had gone by when Phil Roper beat PR Sreejesh from Lee Morton’s pass to put the hosts ahead. It could have been two had Nicholas Bandurak connected Zach Wallace’s ball into the circle. Minutes later at the other end, Hardik Singh fired wide with Olie Payne at his mercy and the first quarter ended with GB preserving their fragile lead.
Sukhjit Singh, for the second match in succession, scored for India with a spectacular diving effort from Gurjant Singh’s backhand crack to the far post and India were level in the 19th minute.
There was no quarter given nor expected by two sides going for broke. GB though were given a gilt-edged chance to forge ahead when a penalty stroke came their way after Sanjay was adjudged to flout the five-metre rule for an aerial ball into the circle five minutes before halftime.
India fought shy of using the video referral but it ended well for them when Sreejesh brought off an amazing save with a touch to deflect Wallace’s power-packed effort to the metalwork and out.
Another penalty stroke decision – this time to India in the 36th minute – resulted in a goal. India captain Harmanpreet Singh scored his 12th in this season’s edition, beating Payne to his left after a foul on Manpreet Singh brought the award.
India’s 2-1 lead lasted just one minute, ending when Jack Waller accepted Timothy Nurse’s pass to blast over Pathak from the right of the circle to make it 2-2.
It was anybody’s game in a frenetic fourth and final quarter. There were vigorous midfield battles for possession and close calls in either goalmouth.
Sukhjeet, usually feared for his finishing, all but drew a touch from his searching ball from the left.
At the other end, however, a touch of determination and enterprise from the masked Sam Ward led to Lee Morton flicking goalwards and finding the faintest touch by Alan Forsyth, the Scottish stalwart, to script the match-winner in the 50th minute.
Sukhjeet tested Payne as the minutes ticked away. At the other end, Ward went close from Nurse’s pass.
Pathak then made way for an outfield player and India rode on that advantage to force two more penalty corners but GB held the fort for three points.