After 12 straight losses within the final 14 matches and conceding 26 targets within the final 4 matches, India on Wednesday ended their embarrassing “six-year winless streak” in opposition to Australia.
According to International Hockey Federation knowledge, the final time India utterly beat Australia in common time was on November 29, 2016 – a 3–2 win in a Test match in Australia. And they ended the barren run in type on Wednesday because the match noticed late drama as three targets have been conceded within the remaining three minutes, with India having the final chuckle.
The bronze medalists from the Tokyo Olympics beat the silver winners 4-3 in a good sport, with ahead Akashdeep Singh scoring the winner with solely 54 seconds remaining within the sport. Akashdeep’s objective got here simply when it seemed like Australia, who had scored simply seconds earlier, would escape a draw after Samsher Singh put India up 3-2 within the 57th minute.
However, India responded strongly and with a minute left within the match, Hardik confirmed unimaginable imaginative and prescient together with his defence-splitting lengthy move and located Mandeep Singh on the prime of the ‘D’. Mandeep performed it to the route of Akashdeep, who edged it previous the Australian goalkeeper and ensured India survived the five-match collection, which they path 1-2.
The match, nonetheless, was not with out controversy. After full time, each the groups returned to the pitch to apply the shootout with the World Cup in thoughts in January. In one try, India’s goalkeeper PR Sreejesh injured Australian attacker Ky Willot whereas making an attempt to make a save.
🎙️ Baichi displays after the 4-3 defeat @TheHockeyIndia,
All to play on the weekend. #honestvwind #PrideoftheKookas pic.twitter.com/v93ppsm7iC
– Kookaburras (@Kookaburras) November 30, 2022
Australia’s coach Colin Batch was livid after the match and requested for FIH’s intervention. Batch stated, ‘This is a disgusting act. “And, you know, FIH and the rules need to do something when a player intentionally takes someone out and injures them.”
In regulation time, Sreejesh confirmed glimpses of his previous self by making miraculous saves together with a triple save within the second quarter to maintain Australia at bay. He was helped initially by a minimal of defenders, who didn’t stray out of place and made it troublesome for the Australians to seek out house.
For a second it seemed as if all of the defensive exhausting work could be in useless when Australia scored a objective on the finish of the match to make the rating 3–3. But Akashdeep’s objective ensured a morale-boosting victory for India. The final two matches of the collection shall be performed this weekend.
With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
