Germany down Indian eves in hard-fought encounter

The Indian women’s hockey team went down fighting 3-2 to slump to its second consecutive defeat against Germany in the tour to South Africa. The first period started with the Indian eves looking to make up for the 3-0 loss in the previous tie against Germany.

Published : Feb 29, 2016 14:13 IST

India plays its next match, of the South African tour, against Scotland on Tuesday.

The Indian women’s hockey team went down fighting 3-2 to slump to its second consecutive defeat against Germany in the tour to South Africa.

The first period started with the Indian eves looking to make up for the 3-0 loss in the previous tie against Germany.

They began on an attacking note and were soon rewarded by a penalty corner conversion by Sunita Lakra to end the first quarter with a 1-0 lead.

Rollercoaster of a game

The second quarter evidently saw Germany trying to make a comeback. Its efforts paid rich dividends as Lisa Marie Schutze secured a field goal to score the equaliser.

The Indians fought back, playing a counter attacking game and in the dying minutes of the second quarter Anuradha Devi Thokchom scored a field goal that put the team in the lead again.

But it wasn’t long before Germany’s Hannah Kruger converted a penalty corner to once again bring parity to the scores.

The first half ended with the scores tied at 2-2.

The third quarter witnessed no goals from either side as both the defences were at work.

Both the teams went into a completely attacking mode, playing a pressing game in the fourth and final quarter.

Kruger emerged the hero for Germany in the end, as she converted her second penalty corner of the match in the dying moments to give her team an exciting 3-2 victory over India.

India plays its next match, of the South African tour, against Scotland on Tuesday.