India go down in nail-biting finish to lose Ind-Aus hockey series
The Indian hockey team defeated World champions Australia 3-2 in the third Test at Raipur on Monday to draw the three match series 1-1 and enforced a penalty shootout for the series decider. The hosts, however, faltered at the final stroke of a nail-biter to lose the shootout 2-3 and, with it, the three-Test series.
Having beaten India 2-1 in the second Test yesterday, Australia started the match on the front foot earning a penalty corner within the first thirty seconds. Chris Ciriello, however, was unable to take advantage with the ball going wide from the penalty corner. Australia pinned India back for the majority of the first quarter through a flurry of attacks on the Indian goal. If it was not for a couple of brilliant saves from Indian goalie PR Sreejesh in the last minute, Australia would have finished the quarter with a lead. With India’s involvement limited to half-chances, Australia ended the quarter as the better team.
The second quarter was a totally different story. India started the quarter by throwing attack after attack on the Australian goal. The incessant attacks by the team delivered a penalty corner, thanks to Akashdeep Singh. 'Mr. Penalty Corner' VR Raghunath stood up to convert his third goal of the series, thanks to a deflection off the Aussie defence. The goal was Raghunath’s 12th from penalty corners in 31 matches this year. Australia’s efforts to get back into the game were limited to long-rangers, with the Indian defence holding tight. Devinder Walmiki’s injury from a collision with the Aussie defender was India’s only concern at the end of the first half.
India changed their goalkeeper in the second half, with Harjot Singh replacing PR Sreejesh. Oltmans' plans seemed to be working with India holding possession in the midfield. With SV Sunil’s pace causing the Kookabura defence all sort of problems, India were destined to double the lead. However, some horrible defending by Rupinder Pal Singh gifted Australia a way back into the match. With Rupinder losing the ball in the attacking third, Trent Mitton pounced on the ball and ran through the D and beat Harjot easily.
A few minutes later, Rupinder gave India the lead, converting the hosts' second penalty corner. Rupinder beat Australian goalie Tristan Clemons with a firm push to the roof of the net to score his 50th career goal. India finished the quarter leading 2-1, 15 minutes away from forcing a penalty shoot-out.
The last 15 minutes saw both teams going for more goals, with India needing a two goal margin to avoid the shoot-out and Australia needing a goal to equalize. Seven minutes into the quarter, Australia were awarded their third penalty corner. However, good Indian defending in the last third saw the Australians faltering from consecutive penalty corners. The pressure on India finally found its way into the goal, with Trent Mitton scoring his second goal of the match seven minutes from time.
Australia continued the pressure on the Indian goal in search of a winner. India's best chance of the game fell to Akashdeep Singh, but he messed up the chance with only Aussie goalie Tristan Clemons in front of him. Akashdeep, however, made amends for it very soon, when he scored from a long ball by Birendra Lakra to enforce the penalty shoot-out. Â
Australia scored from the first try through Daniel Beale, but Indian captain Sardar Singh missed, to put India at a disadvantage. Sreejesh, however, brought India back into the game with a save off Trent Mitton. Akashdeep Singh missed the third try to put India traling 2-0. India, however, came back to level terms with penalty conversations by Rupinder Pal Singh and Birendra Lakra. Chris Ciriello converted the fifth try to give Australia a 3-2 lead. India was awarded a penalty stroke for the fifith try, when Tristan Clemons fouled Dharamvir Singh. VR Raghunath stepped up to convert the stroke, but Clemons saved it with his leg and gifted Australia the series. Â
