India 2(4)-2(3) Australia, FIH Pro League HIGHLIGHTS: India wins in penalty shootout, ends mini-tournament unbeaten

India’s next outing will be in London. It will take on Great Britain and the mighty Belgium in a similar mini-tournament in May.

Post that, it goes to Eindhoven to take on the Netherlands and Argentina.

Those will be under the stead of the new coach Craig Fulton.

You can catch all the lastest hockey news and updates on Sportstar. It has been a privilage to bring you the play from this round of FIH Pro League matches. Thank you for tuning in. See you!

“Great to be back in India. The support for India and even Australia and Germany was a great experience. Brought a lot of young guys here for the first time. All four macthes we played to win but that is hockey. We couldn’t convert out chances.”

Harmanpreet Singh wins the Player of the Match award for his two crucial shots in the penalty shootout.

“Thank you because it is a great feeling (to remain unbeaten). Everyone gave their 100%. Everyone was focused for the entire 60 minutes and the penalty shootout,” he says.

That’s the end. Sreejesh’s heroics in the shooutout ensures India ends the mini-tournament unbeaten. India took it right down to the wire but a win nonetheless for the side.

Two points for India on the night. One for the draw and a bonus to win the shootout. It ends the tournament with 11 points from the four matches.

David John can hold his head with pride. His side beats World Champion Germany and the mighty Australia twice within a week’s time. And the Australian’ high performance director’s stint with the Indian team comes to an end with this.

Scores will read IND-AUS

0-0: Whetton misses for Australia. He tries to go to the right side and shoot but is not quick enough. Sreejesh keeps the pressure and the Aussie misses.

1-0: Harmanpreet scores. He hits the ball between Durst’s legs.

1-1: Harvie scores for Australia. He dummies a reverse but then changes direction to beat Sreejesh.

1-1: Hardik misses. His reverse shot is saved by Durst.

1-2: Australia goes ahead with a reverse hit from Marais.

1-2: Vivek misses. He goes for a turn and shoot strategy with his back turned. The shot goes wide.

1-3: Whetton scores. He keeps going to his right and slides the ball past Sreejesh. If India misses the next shot, it loses.

2-3: Sukhjeet with a complete 360 spin and a shot to beat Durst. India stays in the contest. If Australia scores now, it wins.

2-3: Sreejesh is able to save Ephraums’ shot but the umpire signals a penalty stroke. A referral from the keeper as Sreejesh appeals for a foul by the Aussie player.

The referral is successul. Ephraums stepped on the keeper’s foot. Chance saved! India stays alive.

3-3: Dilpreet with the shot. And he fires it home. He had his back to goal, but with the constant left-right to-and-fro he beats Durst.

SUDDEN DEATH

4-3: Harmanpreet scores! A 360-degree spin to feint a shot. He hits it then with the keeper on the ground.

4-3: Whetton misses. Sreejesh with three back-to-back saves to deny the last shot from Australia.

INDIA WINS!

We have a first shootout. India and Australia cannot be seperated in the 60 minutes and we will have the roullette of the penalty shootout. Australia clearly the better side in the second half. It upped the ante to overcome a goal’s deficit. Ephraums did that but India again pulled ahead with Sukhjeet. But Australia found a last fight to get the parity back.

Australia works a last attempt with an aerial ball but there is no one to receive it.

India making the opponent chase the ball. Vivek and Abhishek try to work a move in the circle but Gurjant fouls and the move ends.

Sreejesh with a sharp save off Sharp’s pass. The Aussie is coming down the left side of goal, hugging the baseline. He hits it towards the goal and Sreejsh puts out his left hand to parry the ball to safety.

Xess again the saviour for India. He lands the ball on Harvie’s foot and wins a free hit for India.

Australia sustains a spell of pressure and then breaks out an attack. No space to advance beyond the half-way line but Australia keeps the ball.

Australia fails to score again. Sumit blocks the drag flick with his stick before Xess finds an Aussie foot.

Gupte’s drag flick is stopped by Sumit’s foot. A third attempt.

SAVED by Sreejesh but the left-handed save hits Harmanpreet. Another try.

Another penalty corner for Australia. This one is for a back stick by Sumit. Whetton with the work there for the Kookaburras.

Sukhjeet is shown a Green Card for a stick tackle it appears. India will be down a player in two of the last five minutes.

How has that stayed out? Ephraums with a wizard like dribble. He works his way into the circle and takes a shot. Sreejesh is able to save and India somehow survives the scuffle for the loose ball that follows.

Australia equalises. A penalty corner variation works the trick. Whetton slips the injection behind Gupte and Howard slaps it at goal. Ephraums lunges forward to change the direction and beat Sreejesh but it came off an Indian stick.

A penalty corner for Australia. Jugraj gets the ball on his foot. Staines wins it for Australia.

India nearly nicks the ball off Atkinson at the half way line but a subsequent foul saves the Aussie.

Australia looking to go all out attack in the last 10 minutes of the match.

Oh India is ahead! The crowd is raucous here. Karthi scores but it was a genius move from Sukhjeet that beats the defence. Australia has asked for a referral. It appeals for a push before the goal.

Sukhjeet with a reverse turn completely confuses two Australian markers. He then changes direction and squares the ball. It lands at Karthi who finesses it past Durst. It came off an Australian stick so the goal is credited to Sukhjeet himself.

Australia loses its referral as there was no push on that play.

India is approaching the Australia circle but Howard thwarts it with an interception.

The last quarter starts. India needs the home crowd behind it for the final period. Sreejesh back in goal for the host.

Australia is back in the hunt! Ephraums got his side back in this match. He first won a stroke and then beat Pawan to restor parity. Not many chances for India as Australia kept the intensity high throughout. A nerve-wrecking last quarter ahead of us.

India made to work in defence in the dying seconds of the quarter. India manages to hold on.

Whetton’s cut back from the circle lands onto an Indian stick. A chance wasted, really. That was a good possession advantage Australia had.

Australia has a chance hit India on a counter. The final pass into the circle goes behind Sharp and Australia has to contend with a hit in form the right side.

Abhishek with a dribble on the right side inside the Australia circle. The ball somehow bounces off his own toe and Australia wins the hit. Two defenders were onto him and Abhishek had nearly managed to evade them.

Sukhjeet’s shot goes wide. That is India’s first chance of the quarter.

India with some neat interplay in its half to try and make a move into the opposition territory.

A collision between Harmanpreet and Ephraums. No malice there. Both players back on their feet.

Ephraums gets Australia level. He beats Pawan for direction and Australia has clawed its way back in the game.

A STROKE FOR AUSTRALIA! Pawan commits an error. He comes out of his line to stop Ephraums from taking the ball. He mistimes it completely. A no-brainer for the umpire.

Vihsnukant almost gets the ball off Zalewski but the umpire calls it a foul.

WIDE! Gupte misses! He got elevation on the shot but it kept going wide.

Shamsher is the culprit for India as Australia gets another penalty corner. Sharp is obstructed and the Kookaburras have a third attempt from the short corner.

Sukhjeet gets a long range pass and he is able to eke out a free hit for India. This puts India out of the pressure it had been dealing with in the recent minutes.

SAVED! It is the first rusher which does his job first. Australia gets the second ball and Whetton shoots again. The ball lobs in the air off a stick deflection which Pawan clears.

A penalty corner for Australia. Dilpreet gets the ball on his leg trying to deny Beltz a circle penetration. He thinks of a referral but opts against it.

Jugraj Singh with a crucial interception. He was the last man before the Australian player and he prevents the ball from going to him.

We’re off with the second half. Australia with the ball.

For all of India’s dominance, the side would have liked a better lead at the half-way point. Other than the missed penalty corners - five to be precise, it has been a heartening performance so far. India has particularly impressed with a rock solid defence. But knowing the Aussies, they will surely lead a fightback in the second half. This one might not have the nine goals like the previous meeting, but it remains a close game nonetheless. Be back in 10 for more action.

SAVED! Durst with a vital block! India breaks out a counter. Gurjant passes to Abhishek around the half way line and the latter carries it forward. After an entry into the circle, Abhishek switches to his left side and shoots. Durst with his right leg sends the shot wide.

Harmanpreet wins the ball for India and leads a counter attack. The flow is broken by a strategic foul from Australia.

Shamsher with a block on Collins’ pass on the left flank. Long corner for Australia.

Nearly! India with a golden chance. Sukhjeet gets the ball after a mix up between Australia’s defenders. He does not have a lot of defenders to beat. He enters the circle and instead of passing to Karthi on the right, he shoots. Blocked by a stick.

CORRECTION: It is India’s Jugraj who got the Green Card. Australia and India both down to 10 men.

OFF THE POST! Australia comes close. Ephraums gets the ball from the right side. Sreejesh chooses to step out from his line. Ephraums turns his back, swivles to his left and shoots. The post saves India.

Another Green Card for Australia. It is down to nine men.

Australia’s Sharp gets a two-minute send off for a stick tackle on Hardik.

Abhishek tries to win a penalty corner for India. He aims for the foot of Gupte but the Aussie is able to hold still and avoid contact. Australia escapes.

SAVED! Jarmanpreet saves the drag flick by Anand Gupte on the goal line. He makes up for his error.

Australia is rewarded for the sustained pressure. A penalty corner. Jarmanpreet, in an attempt to clear the ball, sends the ball over the baseline.

Australia collects a free hit with a strike on Vishnukant’s foot.

Karthi fails to trap a pass from Jarmanpreet there was a defender stuck with him and that induces the mistake.

Pawan has been replaced by Sreejesh in goal for India. That has been the case throughout the four matches in this mini-tournament. Good rotation between the youngster and the veteran.

Australia with a circle penetration from the right side. But the pass theron is weak and India has no trouble in clearing it.

India starts the play for the second period.

India has started the game well. Clearly the better side. The lead should have been higher given the flurry fo short corners. But overall, its been a professional job in the first quarter. It has denied any real chances to the opponent.

India’s dangerous-looking counter attack is halted when Abhishek cannot cleanly collect a pass from Hardik. That was a sure-shot goal for India. It had outnumbered the defence but the sloppy mistake costs it.

Shamsher fails to trap a pass and is crowded out by Aussie shirt. Possession turned.

Willott has some space and time in the Indian circle. He goes for the right side of the goal and aims to pass it square. Indian defence is on top of him and he flounders under pressure. The ball rolls out of play.

Selvam Karthi has some space on the left flank and the crowd is excited. He moves in and goes for and audacious tomahawk. The ball flies way off target.

Staines fails to trap an overhead aerial ball and India gets the ball back.

India build a counter attack from the left side via Gurjant but there is no space and the home team prefers to retain the possession instead.

Ockenden gives away a foul near the Australia circle.

Sukhjeet wins the ball for India near the circle. Possession turned.

Australia with a sustained spell of possession in the Indian half. Still no circle entries though.

Pawan makes a save for India! The first time he’s been tested and he makes a close range save. Welch with the shot after a dribble into the circle.

India misses. Again an error in trapping the ball. But India enters the circle again and misses it by a whisker. The ball whizzes past the face of the goal from the right side and Hardik’s shot goes over.

Successful! India keeps the referral and gets another bite at the cherry.

India errs in trapping the injection and the ball goes lose. India has asked for a referral here. Harmanpreet takes the ball after it is kept alive post the corner miss. He hits a reverse shot and appeals the deflection fromthe Aussie stick is dangerous.

This time the shot gets the foot of Beltz and India gets another short corner.

The first attempt from the short corner is saved by the rusher. India gets another try.

Another penalty corner for India. India has gotten off to a flying start. Durst saves a shot but his save is deemed to deflect the ball in a dangerous manner.

Vishnukant loses the ball and the turnover could be fatal for India but the umpire blows his whistle for a foul by the Australian player.

India with another circle attempt but Australia is able to clear the danger.

INDIA LEADS! It is 1-0! Harmanpreet’s drag flick is blocked by Australia’s first rusher but Vivek gathers the rebound. Turns to his left and slams a reverse hit past Durst in goal. What a start

Penalty Corner for India! The five metre rule flouted by an Aussie defender. Harman to Abhishek for the aerial in the circle and India off to a great start.

Australia starts the proceeding and India is able to win the possession in the first minute.

The anthems are done and play is ready to start.

The Indian player is making his 100th appearance for the team.

India’s David John: It is an important day. A player of ours is playing a milestone game. You’ll her about it later. It has been about preparing for things in the future. It has been very good. Looking forward to playing Australia. They were good last night so it will be a challenge.

Australia’s Anthony Potter: The boys are happy with the win against Germany, and we hope to carry it forward today. You need to score more goals against India to win and defend well and contain the crowd.

India has found a purple patch at the Birsa Munda Stadium. It is yet to lose a match at its new home ground. It won all its World Cup matches here, and has now clinched three victories in the Pro League.

India, with its three wins over the past week, has jumped to the top place in the FIH Pro League standings.

India’s win against the Kookaburras on Sunday was just its second win in the last 10 matches. The Aussies have had the better of the Men in Blue but David John’s side hung on to a one-goal advantage to pull off a win for the ages.

India: 15 | Australia: 48 | Draws: 6

Australia 0-1 Germany

Australia 4-5 India

Australia 2-1 Germany

India 3-2 Germany

India 5-4 Australia

India 6-3 Germany

Here is the goal that Karthi scored against Australia during their last meeting in the mini-tournament.

Lachlan Sharp, Jake Harvie, Nathan Ephraums, Johan Durst, Jacob Anderson, Josh Beltz, Eddie Ockenden, Jake Whetton, Jayden Atkinson, Tim Howard, Aran Zalewski (C), Ben Rennie, Craig Marais, Ky Willott, Jack Welch, James Collins, Hayden Beltz, Anand Gupte, Ben Staines, Davis Atkin

Sreejesh Parattu Raveendran, Pawan, Harmanpreet Singh (C), Jugraj Singh, Nilam Sanjeep Xess, Jarmanpreet Singh, Sumit, Manjeet, Manpreet Singh, Hardik Singh (V/C), Vivek Sagar Prasad, Moirangthem Rabichandra Singh, Vishnukant Singh, Dilpreet Singh, Shamsher Singh, Raj Kumar Pal, S. Karthi, Sukhjeet Singh, Abhishek, Gurjant Singh

The match between India and Australia will start at 7 PM. The match will be telecasted live in India on Star Sports Select 2 and Star Sports Select 2 HD TV channels in India. While the livestream of the same will be available on Fancode.

India takes on Australia in its last game at the mini-tournament in Rourkela.

The side has enjoyed a brilliant run under the interim mentorship of David John, beating World Champion Germany twice and winning one against Australia in a nine-goal thriller.

It has been particularly pleasing to see the performance of the young guns in the side - Selvam Karthi and Dilpreet Singh.

Australia too comes on the back of a 2-1 win against Germany and will look to avenge is 5-4 from Sunday.