The Indian men’s hockey team went down fighting against Australia on Saturday, suffering a 2-3 defeat in Perth that helped the home team sweep the five-match series. Team India, who are in Australia to fine-tune their preparations for this year’s Paris Olympics, had lost the previous Tests by margins of 1-5, 2-4, 1-2 and 1-3 and would’ve been hoping to sign off with a win.
Skipper Harmanpreet Singh (4th) and Boby Singh Dhami (53rd) were the goal scorers for India, while Australia sounded the board through Jeremy Hayward (20th), Ky Willott (38th) and Tim Brand (39th).
The Indians started the game with an attacking mindset. Jugraj Singh lobbed the ball up to Jarmanpreet Singh in the Aussie half but failed to connect with the forward line.
India took the lead in the fourth minute through Harmanpreet from a penalty corner as he registered his third goal of the series.
Australia equalised in the 20th minute through Hayward, who scored his seventh goal of the series from a set piece.
India’s reserve custodian Suraj Karkera made a fine save to deny Nathan Ephraums.
Seconds from the half time, Australia secured a penalty corner but Karkera kept India in the hunt by making an excellent save with his right leg to deny Hayward.
'He's virtually unstoppable Jeremy Hayward'
— Kookaburras (@Kookaburras) April 13, 2024
Jerry absolutely nails one to level the playing field early in the second quarter.
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India started brightly after the change of ends and secured a penalty in the 37th minute but Harmanpreet’s flick missed the target.
The Kookaburras stunned the visitors once again by taking the lead a minute later through Willot, who deflected the ball in front of the Indian goalkeeper Krishan Bahadur Pathak from Ephraums’ inch-perfect pass.
Australia added salt to India’s wounds by extending the lead through an unmarked Brand who shot home from Eddie Ockenden’s assist.
The Indians had chances and secured anothter penalty corner in the 42nd minute but Amit Rohidas’ shot wide.
The hosts too got two more penalty corners but the Indians defended well.
India meant business and looked to put pressure on the Australian defence in the final quarter.
Their efforts bore fruit when Dhami scored his first international goal with a reverse hit past Andrew Charter seven minutes from the hooter. But that was all India could manage as the Australian defence didn’t commit any more mistakes, even though the visitors pressed hard.
With PTI inputs
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