HWL Finals: India goes down fighting to England
India makes a spirited comeback after being 0-2 down with goals from Samuel Ward and David Goodfield but Ward steals a winner in the dying minutes to deny India a win.
Published : Dec 02, 2017 19:10 IST
Welcome to Sportstar 's LIVE coverage of the Hockey World League's second match between India and England. After India played out a draw against Australia on Friday, the Men in Blue would be hoping to get full points on board from this encounter.
Although the draw meant shared points, coach Sjoerd Marijne was happy with his wards' show. This is what he had to say after the match.
In case, you missed how India geared up for the England match, you can read it
Earlier in the day, we had a couple of upsets in store and click here to read how the action unfolded.
------------------------------------------------------
Not a great start for India in the Hockey World League final. Held Australia and went down to England. India needs to sort out its defensive lapses and the midfield should hold the ball clean. These lapses have prevented the forwards from going all out and has cost India the game.
India loses to England 2-3. India was 2-0 down and crawled back on level terms but a defensive error costs them and England found a winner with three minutes to time.
58' Akashdeep Singh gets a yellow and is sent out.
57' England goes 3-2 up. Samuel Ward scores his second. A lapse in concentration and the Indian defence is in shambles. A poor clearance by Manpreet.
55' India gets the confidence back. Attacks relentlessly and increases the tempo of the game. England doing its best to catch up.
Eight minutes on the clock. Can India get a winner here?
49' Another PC for India. What a comeback by India. Draws level 2-2. Rupinderpal Singh doing what he is best at. Dragflicks with perfection and to the England goalkeeper George Pinner's left and the ball goes into the net in a flash.
48' Mandeep Singh and Liam Sanford get a green card each.
47' India starts the final quarter on a positive note. Pulls one back. 1-0. It was a penalty corner and Rupinderpal Singh took the dragflick. His shot was saved by the goalkeeper and the Akashdeep latched on to the rebound in a flash and sent the ball in.
| Fourth quarter begins |
End of the third quarter. England 2-0.
44' India gets its first PC. Manpreet with the shot and Harmanpreet cannot make it count. The Indians go upstairs for another PC but waste it out. Manpreet sends in a tracer bullet but it was well saved by the England goalkeeper. The resulting rebound gets to Harmanpreet but he fails to latch on to it.
India has been very sloppy in the field. It started a tad better but have let off steam and has run out of ideas.
43' Samuel Ward doubles the lead. England 2-0. Harmanpreet Singh makes a horrid clearance and Ward rounds off Akash Chitke and sends the ball straight into the net.
40' Sloppy work from India. Trying to attack on a counter but the midfield doesn't hold the passes and the advantage is blown away.
39' India penetrate into the circle. A skirmish and India gets a couple of chances but both are blown away. The Indian attack lacks teeth. No power in any shot.
36' Lalit Upadhyay with the ball on the right flank. Tries to get it past the goalmouth from an acute angle but the ball hits a defender and goes out.
33' Chinglensana with a shot from the edge of the circle. But England custodian is up and ready to save the shot.
| Third quarter begins |
"It has not been the best game so far. We have to lift ourselves up and play better," says Uthappa at the break time.
End of second quarter. At half-time, England leads 1-0.
26' England scores. 1-0 up. David Goodfield it is. He latches on to a diagonal pass and the ball deflects off India goalkeeper Suraj Karkera and goes in.
25' England gets its first penalty corner. The dragflick is saved by the rushing defender.
24' England is now enjoying more ball possession. The Indian midfield is failing to keep up the pressure.
23' India's Sumit gets a green card. Now down to 10 men.
Both the teams have made three circle entries each and none has been successful.
20' Excellent man-to-man marking from England. It is not giving any space for India to push.
17' Chinglensana Singh with a great chance. He latched on to a pass from Akashdeep from the left but his reverse flick was just wide off the near post.
| Second quarter begins |
End of the first quarter. The teams deadlocked at 0-0.
11' S.V. Sunil gets the ball and sprints but sadly he couldn't find Akashdeep as he would have liked as he trips on the run and loses the ball. It could have been a great move.
Incase you missed it, our dragflicker Harmanpreet Singh is playing his 50th match.
10' England makes a couple of entries into the Indian circle. India has just left its opponents off the hook and looks like it is chasing the ball for now. But it gets back on its feet immediately and takes control of the match.
8' England matches India's pace and get control of the proceedings. The Englishmen on the attack now. England's man-to-man marking is also good.
4' England with a chance. Dipsan fails to clear it properly but the David Goodfield's backhand stroke is off target. That was a bit of a sloppy work from India.
2' Akashdeep Singh gets a half chance early on. Gurjant Singh takes the ball and presses hard and sends it to Akashdeep.
1' The intent from India is clear as it was yesterday. Press and push hard for goals.
| First quarter begins |
The England players in a huddle and so is the Indian team. The players going through their warmup paces now.
The players are out on the turf. Time for the National Anthems. England's anthem followed by India's.
Here is the starting XI.