New Delhi: The Indian men’s hockey team secured a thrilling 5-3 victory over world champion Germany in the second test match at Major Dhyan Chand Stadium. Captain Harmanpreet Singh and Sukhjeet Singh led India’s charge, scoring two goals each. However, despite the win, India fell short in the series, losing 1-3 in the final shootout.
International hockey made its return to Major Dhyan Chand Stadium after 11 years, and the two-match test series between India and Germany provided intense moments. After Germany won the first test 2-0, India responded strongly in the second match. However, the shootout determined the series winner, where Germany came out on top.
Thrilling Second Test: India’s Comeback Effort
Germany started the second test with a quick lead, as Elian Mazkur scored in the 7th minute with a reverse shot. India pushed hard early but faced strong resistance from Germany’s goalkeeper Joshua N Onyekwu, who blocked multiple penalty corners and kept India scoreless for much of the first half.
India finally broke through in the second half, with Sukhjeet Singh scoring in the 34th and 48th minutes. Captain Harmanpreet Singh also stepped up with back-to-back goals in the 42nd and 43rd minutes, giving India a solid lead. Abhishek added another goal in the 45th minute to put India ahead.
Germany narrowed the gap with goals from Mazkur (57th minute) and Heinrich Mertjens (60th minute), but India held on to win 5-3 at the end of regular time.
Shootout Woes Continue for India
With both teams winning one match each, the series was decided through a shootout. India struggled in the shootout, with key players like Harmanpreet Singh, Abhishek, and Mohammad Raheel missing their shots. Aditya Arjun Lalge, who made his debut, managed to score, but it wasn’t enough.
India’s goalkeeper Krishan Bahadur Pathak made two crucial saves during the shootout, but Germany still managed to win 3-1 and clinched the series.
Missed Chances and Solid Defense
Throughout the match, India created multiple opportunities but failed to convert several penalty corners, especially in the first half. Manpreet Singh and Amit Rohidas, playing his 200th match, tried variations but couldn’t break Germany’s solid defense. Onyekwu, Germany’s goalkeeper, was instrumental, saving eight penalty corners and a penalty stroke.
India’s aggressive play in the second half saw them convert a few penalty corners, but missed chances in the shootout proved costly. Despite a strong performance, India’s struggle in shootouts continues to haunt them, similar to their loss against Germany in the Paris Olympics semi-final.
The series loss will serve as a lesson for India as they aim to improve their performance in future tournaments. With new talents like Aditya Arjun Lalge entering the team, India hopes to sharpen their skills in critical moments like penalty shootouts.
