FIH Pro League: Indian men lose 2-3 to Australia in reverse leg - Highlights
Catch all the highlights from India's reverse-leg match against Australia in Antwerp, Belgium, on Sunday.
Indian men to take on Australia in the reverse leg of the FIH Pro League 2024-25. (Photo Credits: Hockey India)
The Indian men's hockey team took on arch-rivals Australia in the reverse leg of the 2024-25 FIH Pro League season in Antwerp, Belgium, on Sunday.
After facing five consecutive defeats in the last one week, the team was aiming to bounce back and break their deadlock in this European leg of the seasonh but they failed to do so and lost another close match by a 1-goal margin.
With this, India dropped to eighth, just one spot above the relegation position, on the FIH Pro League Standings after 14 matches.
As it happened:
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India could not get the much-needed equaliser as they started their attack very late in the final minute of the fourth quarter, which was dominated by Australia, having a total of 10 circle penetrations in the quarter.
A sixth consecutive narrow 1-goal defeat for India, which unofficially ended their dream of finishing in the top three or having a chance of qualifying for the FIH World Cup 2026 via Pro League.
India will now have almost a week before their final two matches of the season against the strong Belgian side. They will be hoping to use this gap and improve on their mistakes, and have a strong finish to the season.
Only five minutes are left before full time, and India isn't getting any ball possession as Australia keeps possession and puts pressure on the Indian team by using small passes to stretch the play.
India 2-3 Australia
However, Pathak kept the scoreline unchanged with a brilliant diving save on his right hand.
India 2-3 Australia
India looked much better in this quarter, having more circle penetration than Australia in the third quarter and also pulling one goal thanks to Dilpreet's quality finish on baseline.
Abhishek's reverse pass found Dilpreet, who held his composure to put the ball in the back of the net in a one-on-one duel with the Australian goalkeeper just on the edge of the goalline.
India 2-3 Australia
Sanjay's third-minute goal was the only positive for India in a pretty heavily dominated first half by the Australian team, showing an all-around play in both the attacking and defensive fronts.
To explain this dominance, Australia had 17 circle penetrations in the first half in comparison to India's 5.
If India didn't find at least two goals in the second half, this might become one of the worst phases in Indian hockey, losing its sixth straight match on the international circuit.
Despite having a 2-goal lead, the Australian forward line isn't stopping and putting a lot of pressure on the Indian defence thanks to quick counterattacks, leading in front by the experienced Blake Govers.
India 1-3 Australia
Joe Burns powerful stike take wicked deflecion from India's front runner which deflected the ball in between Pathal's legs, who had ano chances of saving it and coneding third goal of the match.
India 1-3 Australia
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