Striker Sukhjeet Singh struck a second-half brace as India surprised reigning world champions Germany 3-2 within the FIH Pro League hockey, their first outing after the World Cup debacle, in Rourkela on Friday. The 26-year-old Sukhjeet, one of many gamers who survived the axe after India’s shock pre-quarterfinal exit within the World Cup in January, scored within the thirty first and forty second minutes, each objectives coming from discipline efforts. His captain Harmanpreet Singh, joint top-scorer within the match to date, had given the house facet the lead within the thirtieth minute by means of a penalty nook conversion on the Birsa Munda Stadium.
Harmanpreet had additionally flopped large time in the course of the World Cup held right here and in Bhubaneswar as he had struggled to seek out the goal from his drag flick within the large matches within the showpiece.
India had been 3-0 up within the forty second minute earlier than Paul-Philipp Kaufmann and Michel Struthoff struck for Germany within the forty fourth and 57th minutes respectively.
The Germans, who got here with a number of gamers from their World Cup-winning staff, struggled to attain from the penalty corners. They acquired six PCs as towards 4 of India.
The guests acquired off to a robust begin with 5 back-to-back PCs within the tenth minute however India held their nerves to defend all of them.
Striker Abhishek’s efforts within the circle within the later a part of the second quarter lastly introduced the momentum India was vying for.
Up till then, stray makes an attempt by strikers Gurjant Singh and Dilpreet Singh — each introduced in to the staff after lacking the World Cup — within the preliminary minutes of the sport was put away by German keeper Alexander Stadler.
Abhishek’s fast considering in his sort out to surge forward contained in the hanging circle pressured a German infringement that earned the house staff its first PC of the match simply earlier than the half time.
Harmanpreet, who was retained as captain regardless of the sacking of head coach Graham Reid after the World Cup, was high class in his try, choosing up a great injection by Hardik Singh to fiercely put it away into the best nook of the put up, giving India the much-needed 1-0 lead.
The lead was a shot within the arm for India’s assault as they constructed on it within the third quarter. A superb cross by Jarmanpreet Singh from the 25m mark, slicing into the circle to discover a good deflection by Sukhjeet fetched India their second objective within the first minute after resumption.
About 11 minutes later, Sukhjeet struck once more. Manpreet Singh powered an extended cross from the midfield to the hanging circle which was picked up effectively by the gifted teenager S Karthi who then assisted Sukhjeet to attain his second objective of the match and India’s third towards a formidable German defence.
Apart from stitching collectively good assaults, with the midfield and ahead line in sync, India made some good referrals that saved the German assault at bay.
The guests, although, managed a objective simply earlier than the tip of third quarter when Elian Mazkour arrange Paul-Philipp Kaufmann to attain.
India showcased some very good deep defending within the ultimate moments of the match with Germany pulling out their goalkeeper and including an additional man to their assault.
Always identified to complete effectively, Germany tucked in a objective with simply over two minutes left for the ultimate hooter. It was Hannes Muller who arrange the objective for Michel Struthoff.
Action did not finish there with India being awarded a penalty stroke within the dying seconds of the match however Harmanpreet could not convert it. But India finally held on to the 3-2 lead and earned three factors.
Harmanpreet was proven a yellow card within the fifth minute, and so was Germany’s Tom Grambusch, within the tenth minute.
With the recently-appointed head coach Craig Fulton but to affix the staff, David John was on the helm on Friday, a job he’s anticipated to do within the subsequent three matches additionally.
Following their World Cup debacle, India have dropped senior gamers Mandeep Singh, Akashdeep Singh and Amit Rohidas, whereas goalkeeper Krishan Pathak additionally missed on account of his wedding ceremony.
India face Australia on Sunday and Germany once more within the second leg on Monday.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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