Indian men's hockey team bounces back to beat Germany 5-3, loses bilateral series after shootout loss
The Indian men's hockey team bounced back in style to beat Germany 5-3 in the second game of the two-match bilateral series at the Major Dhyanchand National Stadium in Delhi on Thursday (October 24). However, the Germans won the series after winning the shootout 3-1.
Elian Mazkour ensured that the Germans took an early lead before Sukhjeet Singh scored the equalizer in the second quarter. Harmanpreet Singh helped his side veer ahead with a couple of short corner goals before Abhishek came up with a stunning effort from open play to score India's fourth.
Sukhjeet Singh scored a brace in the final quarter to seal the deal for the hosts who had gone down 0-2 in the opening match. Mazkour and Henrik Mertgents reduced the deficit for the hockey world champions. In the shootout that followed, the Germans scored thrice to register a series win.
Elian Mazkour opened the scoring for Germany in the seventh minute, beating Krishan Pathak with a tomahawk from close range even as the Indian goalkeeper failed to close down the angle.
Aditya Lalage had a chance to score his first international goal on debut in the ninth minute but was unable to beat Jean-Paul Danneberg in goal. Danneberg continued to deny the Indians who attempted an indirect off a penalty corner in the 13th minute.
Andre Henning's team went into the long breather leading by a lone goal after both teams failed to capitalize on a flurry of penalty corners in the second quarter.
Shilanand Lakra found an unmarked Sukhjeet Singh at the goalmouth who levelled things up for the Indians by tapping one past Danneberg in the 34th minute.
Harmanpreet Singh gave India the lead with a lethal drag-flick in the 42nd minute before adding a second to his tally a minute later. Abhishek, who had a quiet game in the first half, was the livewire for the Indians in the second while also getting his name onto the scoresheet in the 45th minute.
Sukhjeet Singh was on hand to score India's fifth goal even as Craig Fulton's team wreaked havoc in the opposition half. Henrik Mertgens scored for the Germans at the death after Mazkour manufactured a brace.
In a chaotic shootout wherein the video umpire had no access to check the eight-second rule or listen to the hooter, the Germans edged India 3-1. India's only goal was hotly disputed by Danneberg as it appeared to have been scored after eight seconds from the start of the striker's run.
Indian men's hockey team is the lone challenger to European dominance on FIH ranking ladder
India's win over Germany in the second match of the bilateral hockey series meant that the Olympic bronze medalists have gained some vital ranking points after having lost the first game.
Since the relative ranking of the teams is a criterion for awarding ranking points, a win for India against the second-ranked team in the world has bolstered their position as far as the ranking points are concerned.
The Netherlands are currently the top-ranked team in world hockey followed by Germany and England. The Belgian Red Lions, who for long battled for the top spot alongside Australia, are now ranked fourth while the Kookaburras are sixth.
India are ranked fifth, as per the FIH as of October 23.