India suffer 2-3 loss to Australia

Defending champions hand Men in Blue their first defeat

BREDA,NETHERLANDS:INDIA put up a valiant fight before defending champions Australia pipped them 3-2 in an absorbing encounter in the six-nation Champions Trophy hockey tournament here on Wednesday.

The reigning World Champions produced their best show of the tournament, scoring through Lachlan Sharp (6th minute), Tom Craig (15th) and Trent Mitton (33rd) to secure full points.

The Indians, however, fought till the end, scoring through Varun Kumar (10th) and Harmanpreet Singh (58th), producing a nail-biting finish.

The defeat meant that India slumped to third spot in the standings with six points from three games while Australia climbed to the top with seven points from identical number of matches. Netherlands are second in the table with six points.

The top two sides after the round robin stage of the six-team event, will play in the final on Sunday. India’s next match is against Belgium on Thursday.

The match witnessed plenty of scoring chances earned by both the sides in the form of penalty corners.

While Australia secured seven penalty corners, India could make use of just one of its nine set pieces.

Australia got off the blocks quickly and took the lead in the sixth minute through Sharpa, who tapped home an Eddie Ockenden’s feed from close quarter.

The Indians got two penalty corners in quick time soon but on both occasion Birendra Lakra failed to stop Sardar Singh’s push.

But Varun levelled the scores for India soon when he slammed home SV Sunil’s pass from the right flank.

Mandeep Singh’s shot from top of the circle was then saved by Australia goalkeeper Tyler Lovell before Indian custodian PR Sreejesh produced a fine save to deny Jeremy Hayward from Australia’s first penalty corner.

But just seconds from the end of the first quarter a lapse in concentration from the Indian defence proved costly as Craig scored from a goal mouth melee.

Just after the second quarter

India secured two quick penalty corners but on both occasion Harmanpreet faltered. Surender Kumar then made a goalline save to deny Jake Wheeton

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