Great Britain beat India 4-3 in Sultan of Johor Cup

India conceded the initial advantage to go down to Great Britain in the end. With this win, Great Britain have avenged their loss to India in the final last year.

India Men Junior team and Great Britain players battle for possesion.

India failed to maintain their winning momentum, going down to Great Britain 3-4 in their second match of the 5th Sultan of Johor Cup junior hockey tournament here today.

India had started their campaign with a convincing win against arch-rivals Pakistan yesterday, but today they conceded the initial advantage to go down in the end.

With this win, Great Britain have avenged their loss to India in the final last year. Great Britain were trailing 2-3 at the end of the first half but managed to keep their nerves to come back strongly and register a victory.

Both the teams started with great speed. In the 6th minute, James Simpson put Great Britain ahead through a field goal. In the 10th minute, they were awarded a penalty corner, but it was saved by the Indian goakeeper.

India continued to attack and in the 17th minute, Varun Kumar from the right entered the 'D'. Seeing Sumit Kumar standing in front of the goal box, Varun passed to him. The Great Britain captain, Luke Taylor, tried to intercept but failed to stop the ball cleanly and Sumit quickly pounced on the chance and flicked the ball into the net for India's equaliser.

India increased their tempo and Sumit yet again scored a field goal in the 26th minute to make it 2-1 for India.

Not wanting to lose the advantage, India continued attacking, and in 29th minute, Manpreet beat the rival goalkeeper to score, making it 3-1. However, Great Britain got a penalty corner in the very next minute and this time Taylor was on target.

With just two minutes left for half-time, Great Britain, desperately looking for the equaliser, earned another penalty corner, but a vigilant Indian defence thwarted their attempt to score.

At half-time, India were leading 3-2.

Into the second half, India got a penalty corner but it was saved by the rival goalkeeper. Great Britain too earned a penalty corner which was cleared by the Indian goalkeeper, but Jack Clee made no mistake with the rebound, making it 3-3 for his team in the 47th minute.

Halfway into the session, India had another chance to go ahead through a penalty corner but the ball was hit wide.

Just when the match seemed headed for a draw, Great Britain, in the 68th minute, scored through a penalty corner and sealed the victory.

India next face Argentina on October 14.