Indian Hockey Team Secures a Win against Australia 4-3 in the FIH Pro League Match

PR Sreejesh, the goalkeeper of the Indian Hockey team helped in a win by 4-3 at the Birsa Munda Stadium against Australia, in the FIH Pro League match.

Written by: Arjita Gupta

Edited by: Krutarth Ghosalkar

Last Updated: 2023-03-16 08:20:42

For the second time, the Hockey team India beat Australia in three days. In the penalty shootout, India on Wednesday for the second leg match was at 2-2 in regulation time. But managed a win at the FIH Pro League in Rourkela. PR Sreejesh, the goalkeeper converted a chance in the shootout for India that won 4-3. The win pushed up the Indian Hockey team a notch up at the Birsa Munda Stadium. It is the fourth win for team India. On Monday, the win helped India get the top position in the standing.

On Sunday, in the first leg match, India beat Australia (the world number 4) with a 5-4 score, while it won the double-legged matches against Germany, the world champions by 3-2 and 6-3. As for the match in question, Sukhjeet Singh scored for India in the 47^th minute of regulation time and Vivek Sagar Prasad scored in the 2^nd minute. For Australia, Nathan Ephraums twice 37^th and in the 52^nd minute. In the shootout, Sukhjeet and Dipreet Singh, as well as Harmanpreet Singh scored for India and won the match.

Just in the second minute, team India earned a penalty corner and Captain Harmanpreet attempted a drag-flick. However, it was protected by Johan Durst, the Australian Keeper. However, as fate would have it, Vivek Sagar Prasad, playing his 100^th match for the team, picked up the rebound and scored a successful goal from the top of the circle. India kept the momentum going by pushing team Australia to the back foot.

While India had two more opportunities, they could not convert them in the first quarter. Australia had its first goal in the 37^th minute with an earlier otherwise no goals in the second quarter. It was Nathan Ephraums, which scored on a penalty stroke. Then ten minutes later, Sukhjeet from India scored a field goal for the team in the 47^th minute. In the 52^nd minute, an unintended foul resulted in a penalty corner to Australia, and the team executed it well.

The foul occurred by the Indian defender. The stopper, Anand Gupte used the trick of faking a drag-flick and then passed the ball to Tim Howard. It was Tim who then put the ball at the post. Both the teams were now at a 2-2 level at the finale of the regulation time. And then they proceeded to the tense shootout moment. Not only did the talented goalkeeper of India, Sreejesh make some awesome saves.

But he was the man who saved the grace of team Hockey India by saving a crucial referral. He also was the one to win an extra point for the team. In May, team India will continue the FIH Pro League matches as they will travel to Europe and compete with Great Britain, Argentina, Netherlands, and Belgium.