With 54 seconds to go for the ultimate hooter, skilled ahead Akashdeep Singh collected a pointy move from Mandeep Singh and transformed it right into a purpose, handing the Indian males’s hockey workforce their first victory over powerhouse Australia after six years. Wednesday’s 4-3 victory on the Mate Stadium in Adelaide retains alive the five-match Check sequence after the hosts received the primary two video games 5-4 and 7-4 on the weekend.
That is India’s first win in regulation time after 14 matches towards the world No 1 workforce, the earlier one having are available a two-Check sequence in Bendigo on November 29, 2016. Out of these 14 video games, India misplaced 12 with one drawn. The one time India ‘beat’ Australia was within the Professional League in February 2020 when the hosts got here out on high 2-2 (3-1) through a penalty shootout in Bhubaneswar. Professional League guidelines although state that equal scores in regulation time is a draw with the shootout winner incomes a bonus level.
India skipper Harmanpreet Singh (twelfth) drew first blood along with his fourth purpose of the sequence, changing a penalty nook. Abhishek (forty seventh) and Shamsher Singh (57th) chipped in with a purpose every earlier than the winner by Akashdeep, who additionally scored a hat-trick within the first sport. For Australia, Jack Welch (twenty fifth), co-captain Aran Zalewski (thirty second) and Nathan Ephraums (59th) scored.
“It was a greater defensive effort as we speak. We put up a goodfight again on a few events. Whereas our PC conversion charge was good, we most likely nonetheless gave them too many alternatives and relied slightly bit an excessive amount of on our goalkeeper,” stated India’s Australian chief coach Graham Reid. “Having stated that, generally it’s good to graft out a win and that’s what the workforce did as we speak. We fought laborious and it was a very good character-building sport for us forward of the World Cup in January.”
The Kookaburras had been dealt a blow when the sequence’ main scorer Blake Govers (5) suffered a calf damage throughout the match.
Sreejesh’s ‘vicious act’
After the match, the groups had ‘exhibition shootouts’ throughout which India goalkeeper PR Sreejesh tackled Australia’s Ky Willott throughout an try, resulting in damage. Coach Colin Batch stated: “I don’t assume it’s critical. It’s a vicious act. FIH and rules must do one thing about it when a participant intentionally takes somebody out and injures them, so doubtlessly we lose one other participant for the weekend.”
The final two video games will probably be performed on Saturday and Sunday.