~Harmanpreet Singh (20′) and Amit Rohidas (29′) scored a objective every for India~
Rourkela, twenty fourth February 2024: Australia shocked the Indian Males’s Hockey Staff with a 3-0 shootout win after holding the house crew to a 2-2 attract regulation time within the FIH Hockey Professional League 2023/24 held right here in Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium. Objectives for India got here from Harmanpreet Singh (20′) and Amit Rohidas (29′) whereas Blake Govers (23′) and Tom Craig (53′) for Australia. Their goalkeeper Johan Durst, named participant of the match, did properly to fetch their crew the additional level from the shootout.
Earlier within the sport, India overcame a nervy begin to construct on their assault from the again with a wonderful deal with by Sumit who has been in stable kind. Harmanpreet adopted it up with some fancy footwork on the best flank aiding Abhishek within the entrance. Although this thrilling assault didn’t fetch them a possible shot on objective, skilled Akashdeep earned India’s first actual probability by profitable a PC. Jugraj, nevertheless, couldn’t make a lot of the possibility however absolutely there was loads of motion within the first quarter which additionally witnessed a wonderful evaluate being taken by India to keep off a PC menace.
The house crew’s much-needed lead lastly got here within the twentieth minute when Manpreet Singh’s good work on the best flank gained India the P C. The India Skipper, in splendid kind, went huge first however in a retake nailed it with a fierce dragflick to the left of Aussie goalkeeper Johan Durst.
Sadly, the huge house crowd’s pleasure was short-lived as Australia didn’t take too lengthy to equalise. A forceful deal with from behind within the circle by defender Amit Rohidas gave away a penalty stroke within the twenty third minute. Blake Govers, a grasp in such conditions, made no mistake in beating Sreejesh to search out the web.
Within the meantime, India’s midfield labored onerous to pave the best way for a second objective. Hardik and Manpreet remained the cynosure within the centre, pushing forward with tempo and vigour. India was ultimately capable of regain the lead solely a minute earlier than the half-time hooter. It was home-grown champ Amit Rohidas who labored his magic bringing loud cheers throughout the stadium along with his good dragflick.
The 2 groups continued to maintain the weekend viewers in Rourkela on the sting of their seats with top-class motion. Despite the fact that no objectives have been scored within the third quarter, the depth of the sport didn’t drop with the spotlight being striker Abhishek’s excellent reverse hit from the sting of the circle which was impeccably saved by Durst.
With India forward by a objective, the ultimate quarter was tense. Australia rigorously pushed for a objective with all its may. The guests piled on the strain, profitable a PC and a stroke however India’s defence with goalkeeping ace Sreejesh again within the put up did fantastically to remain within the lead. Relentless as ever, Australia ultimately struck a 2-2 equaliser when Tom Craig scored a wonderful discipline objective to push the match right into a shootout. Durst did properly to make sure that Indian strikers didn’t rating whereas the guests scored 3 objectives within the shootout to safe the additional level.
India will subsequent tackle Eire tomorrow at 1930 hrs on the iconic Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium.
All matches of the FIH Hockey Professional League 2023/24 can be streamed on JioCinema, moreover, all India matches can be telecast on Sports18 – Khel.
