Hockey Pro League: India register emphatic shootout win against Australia
India will take on New Zealand on 23 and 24 May at the Kalinga Hockey Stadium in Bhubaneswar.
India men produced a near-perfect shoot-out performance to steal a bonus point in Match 2 of their double-header against Australia, with the hosts emerging 3-1 winners in the one-on-ones after regular time finished 2-2 at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar. The result leaves the two teams locked together on ten points, with third-placed Australia ahead in of fourth-placed India in the standings by virtue of a superior goal difference.
Australia – deserving 4-3 winners against India in Match 1 on Friday (21 February) – opened the scoring midway through the second quarter thanks to Trent Mitton’s powerful slap-shot that somehow squeezed between India goalkeeper Krishan Pathak and his near post. However, the home favourites turned the match on its head with two penalty corner goals in three minutes, with Rupinder Singh and Harmanpreet Singh putting India 2-1 up at half time before Australia’s Aran Zalewski levelled matters early in the fourth quarter.
[KH_ADWORDS type="4" align="center"][/KH_ADWORDS]The shoot-out was dominated by India, with Harmanpreet Singh, Vivek Prasad and Lalit Upadhyay all scoring and goalkeeper PR Sreejesh conceding just once as the host nation claimed two points from a possible three. With ten unconverted penalty corners, two disallowed goals and a missed penalty stroke, Australia will feel that they had every opportunity to secure all three points. However, it was a greatly improved performance from India, who certainly deserved a share of the spoils. "I think our guys did a really good job”, said India defender Harmanpreet Singh, who was named Player of the Match. “In yesterday's match we made lots of mistakes, but we had a meeting to decide what we would do in the next match and how we could improve ourselves, and today we did good."
[KH_RELATED_NEWS title="Related News | Article Continues Below"][/KH_RELATED_NEWS]Australia captain Eddie Ockenden said: "It's always exciting being here, and I think we are very lucky to be able to come to India and play in this kind of stadium with these kinds of fans. India are always a great opponent. We are trying to learn a lot about ourselves, and these two games have been very beneficial for us. Playing two games against quality opposition also makes us a lot better."
Latest News
- Hockey India announces dates, teams for inaugural National Women's Hockey League 2024-25
- Young defender Ropni Kumari relishes training camp with senior Indian women's hockey team
- Former women's team player Jaspreet Kaur lauds Hockey India for new initiatives & grassroots programs
- 'Overwhelmed with Joy': Young Mizo midfielder Marina Lalramnghaki makes Indian women's hockey team core group
- Hockey India announces men's core probable group for national camp for Olympics preparation
Editor Picks
- List of Indian athletes who have already secured qualification for Paris Olympics 2024
- India vs Australia, Hockey Test Series 2024: Updated schedule, squad, fixtures, results, live-streaming details
- Harendra Singh to be appointed new Indian women's hockey team coach: Report
- Women's FIH Pro League 2023-24: Top 10 players with most goals
- Top five achievements of Janneke Schopman as coach of Indian women's hockey team