SHOOTOUT FRENZY

Bhubaneswar, February 22

Advertisement

India bounced back in style to beat title-holders Australia 3-1 in a shootout in the second match of the two-leg FIH Pro League match. Both the teams were locked 2-2 at the end of regulation time at the Kalinga Stadium.

India converted two penalty corners through Rupinder Pal Singh (25th minute) and Harmanpreet Singh (27th), while Trent Mitton (23rd) and skipper Aran Zalewski (46th) were the scorers for Australia in regulation time. India had lost 3-4 to the visitors in the first leg. By virtue of this win, India earned three points from the game while Australia pocketed one.

Both India and Australia have 10 points from six games but the Kookaburras are a rung above the Manpreet Singh-led India at the third spot in the standings on goal difference.

In the shootout, Harmanpreet, Vivek Sagar Prasad and Lalit Upadhyay scored for India, while Daniel Beale found the net for the visitors.

Sreejesh in action

Australia made a positive start, earning a penalty corner in the opening 30 seconds of the match, but Jeremy Hayward’s flick was saved by India goalkeeper PR Sreejesh. After that, the hosts pinned the Kookaburras deep in their territory but failed to create opportunities.

In the 8th minute, Australia secured back-to-back penalty corners, the second of which was converted by Lachlan Sharp with a rebound but the goal was ruled out after India called for a video referral for obstruction on goalkeeper Sreejesh. The Kookaburras won another penalty corner in the 12th minute but Sreejesh once again came to India’s rescue by denying Hayward.

Three minutes into the second quarter, Jarmanpreet Singh missed a chance to put India ahead, slapping his first-time shot just wide of the left post after he was picked out by Amit Rohidas’ searching cross from the right.

Mitton broke the deadlock for Australia in the 23rd minute after beating goalkeeper Krishan Pathak with a powerful slap-shot.

Rupinder’s equaliser

Australia earned their sixth penalty corner soon but failed to convert. Five minutes from half-time, Rupinder equalised for the hosts, converting a penalty corner with a low dragflick that went through the legs of Australian goalkeeper Tyler Lovell.

Two minutes later, Harmanpreet converted another set-piece to hand India a 2-1 lead going into the halfway stage.

Two minutes into the second half, Australia secured two penalty corners in succession, but Hayward’s shot on the goal from the second chance was disallowed. A minute later, Tim Brand missed a penalty stroke for Australia. In the 43rd minute, Ramandeep Singh fired high and wide of the rival goal.

Zalewski on target

Australia drew level when an unmarked Zalewski scored from a field effort. Two minutes from the final hooter, Vivek was denied by Tim Howard with a brilliant tackle.

In the final minute, Australia got a golden chance to seal the match with a penalty corner but Matt Dawson’s slap-shot was brilliantly blocked by an onrushing Rohidas. — PTI

INDIA 5-3 AUSTRALIA

INDIA 2: Rupinder Pal Singh (25th), Harmanpreet Singh (27th)

SHOOTOUT: (Harmanpreet, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Lalit Upadhyay)

AUSTRALIA 2: Trent Mitton (23rd), Aran Zalewski (46th)

SHOOTOUT: Daniel Beale