Sultan of Johor Cup | Great Britain hold India to 3-3 draw in last league game

ByPress Release, SportsCafe Editor

10/18/2019

The Indian junior men’s team played out a 3-3 draw against Great Britain in their last league match of the ongoing Sultan of Johor Cup in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. Shilanand Lakra, Mandeep Mor and Sharda Nand Tiwari found the back of the net for the Indian colts as they end the league stage with a tie.

In a cagey first quarter, India controlled the pace of the game and were at the forefront of most attacks but unable to breach the Great Britain defence in the final third. They won the first Penalty Corner of the game in the 11th minute. From the injection the ball fell to Dinachandra Singh whose shot on goal was parried by Oliver Payne in Great Britain's goal. The two teams went into the break locked at 0-0.

India picked up pace in the second quarter and slowly started asserting themselves more in the midfield. The first clear opportunity fell to Gursahibjit Singh, released by a superb pass from Sudeep Chirmako. Gursahibjit's shot though was dragged wide. Soon enough Payne was called into action once again, this time when Sanjay went through one-on-one with the goalkeeper, who did enough to thwart the attempt.

India slowly turned the screw and chances fell in bursts, Sanjay dragging another PC wide, before Great Britain finally got their first chance of the game. It came off a PC in the 27th minute, Ioan Wall's dragflick giving them the first goal of the game. India hit back almost immediately and if not for Payne's brilliance they would had the equaliser, via Shilanand Lakra. His reflex save though meant that India went into half-time trailing 1-0.

Great Britain were quicker off the blocks in the third quarter, and doubled their advantage in the 23nd minute via an Andrew McConnell goal. Almost from the restart India won a PC. Mandeep Mor's subsequent dragflick was saved by Payne and from the rebound Dilpreet's reverse was cleared off the line by their defence. Despite India's multiple circle penetrations and constant attack a goal eluded them. The teams went into the final break with Great Britain leading 2-0.

With their backs against the wall, urgency came into India's play and right from the push back they wrested control of the game. Three minutes in Mor grabbed possession on the right and directed a superb pass to find Shilanand Lakra inside the circle. Lakra's superb touch and finish brought the margin down to one. With momentum on their side, India pushed for the equaliser and soon they had one.

Off a succession of PCs, each of which put Great Britain under more pressure, Mandeep Mor finally breached the rushers to score the equaliser in the 51st minute. Great Britain knew they needed just a draw to qualify for the Final, but India were not letting them up. In the 57th minute India were awarded a stroke, after Dilpreet was brought down illegally in the circle. Sharda Nand Tiwari made no mistake from the spot to give India the lead. With India now happy to defend, it was Great Britain's turn to look for the equaliser, and with virtually the last action of the game, a PC won in the 59th minute Matthew Renshaw scored, ensuring a rematch in the Final.

India will face Great Britain in the Final of the Sultan of Johor Cup in Johor Bahru at 1805 hrs IST on Saturday, 19 October 2019.