India scored a final minute objective to stun world primary Australia 4-3 within the third hockey Take a look at and notch up its first win in 13 matches right here on Wednesday.
It was a uncommon win for India in opposition to Australia, which had received 7-0 within the Birmingham Commonwealth Video games remaining earlier this yr.
The well-known win additionally stored the five-match collection alive, with Australia main 2-1. India had misplaced 4-5 and 4-7 within the first two Exams.
The fourth match can be performed on Saturday, and the ultimate on Sunday. Skipper Harmanpreet Singh (twelfth minute), Abhishek (forty seventh), Shamsher Singh (57th) and Akashdeep Singh (sixtieth) scored for India.
Australia’s objectives got here from the sticks of Jack Welch (twenty fifth), skipper Aran Zalewski (thirty second) and Nathan Ephraums (59th).
Each the groups began on a affected person observe, making an attempt to maintain their defence intact whereas searching for counter-attacks.
Australia had the primary probability within the seventh minute. It was a scramble in entrance of the India objective, however Krishan Bahadur Pathak denied the host with some determined goalkeeping.
India took the lead within the twelfth minute from a penalty nook by way of skipper Harmanpreet, who went for a placement fairly than brute energy. He positioned the ball completely to the suitable of Australia goalkeeper Johan Durst.
Younger Sukhjeet Singh was then denied a superb objective by the put up.
Within the twentieth minute, veteran India custodian P R Sreejesh denied Australia as he was alert on the close to put up to maintain out a reverse hit.
Minutes later, Sreejesh was once more within the thick of issues as he made a triple save from a penalty nook earlier than Surender Kumar stored the ball out. Australia drew stage within the twenty fifth minute when Welch scored his third objective of the collection, glancing in Tim Howard’s looking out ball after an alert Sreejesh thwarted Jerry Hayward’s drag-flick from a penalty nook.
The house facet continued to press onerous after the change of ends, incomes back-to-back penalty corners two minutes after the restart. The second try was deflected in by skipper Zalewski from Hayward’s oblique attempt.
India earned an early penalty nook within the fourth and remaining quarter, and Abhishek discovered the again of the Australian internet, deflecting in Harmanpreet’s flick from shut vary.
India secured a penalty nook within the 52nd minute however didn’t utilise it.
Rajkumar Pal got here near scoring, however his shot from the highest of the circle went extensive.
India utilized stress on the Australian defence within the remaining quarter, and managed to safe one other penalty nook. Shamser was on the proper place on the proper time to faucet in from shut after Jugraj’s preliminary attempt was saved by the opposition goalkeeper.
Australia earned a penalty nook quickly, however Sreejesh thwarted the try.
A minute from the ultimate hooter, Australia secured two consecutive penalty nook however didn’t breach the Indian defence.
However the match was removed from over as 54 seconds from time, Akashdeep scored after being fed by a selfless Mandeep Singh at hand India a well-known win.
