Perth: In the ongoing five-match Test series against Australia, the Indian Men’s Hockey Team faced a setback as they were defeated 2-4 in their second game held in Perth on April 7th. The match witnessed a thrilling see-saw battle between the two teams, with Australia emerging victorious.
The game began with India displaying agile passes and breaching Australia’s defensive line on several occasions. However, it was the hosts who took an early lead when Jeremy Hayward (6′) converted a penalty corner with precision, putting Australia ahead. Despite Australia’s relentless attacks and consecutive penalty corners, they couldn’t capitalize on them, thanks to India’s sturdy defense.
India, meanwhile, shifted their strategy to focus on counterattacks, which paid off when Jugraj Singh (9′) leveled the score with a well-executed penalty corner. The match saw several close opportunities, with India’s Abhishek missing a chance to put his team ahead just before the first quarter concluded, leaving the score tied at 1-1.
In the second quarter, India broke the deadlock as Captain Harmanpreet Singh (30′) showcased his prowess by converting a penalty corner, giving India a 2-1 lead heading into halftime.
Australia came back strong in the third quarter, with Jeremy Hayward (34′) scoring his second goal of the match from a penalty corner. Jacob Anderson (42′) then capitalized on a defensive lapse to put Australia ahead, followed by Nathan Ephraums (45′) extending their lead to 4-2.
Despite India’s relentless attacks in the final quarter, Australia’s solid defense held firm, denying any chance of a comeback. As a result, the match concluded with a 4-2 victory for the hosts.
The Indian Men’s Hockey Team will look to bounce back in their third game against Australia scheduled for April 10th, 2024, at 15:00 hrs IST.
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