Hockey: Deepika’s drag flicks give India hope of a late fightback but Australia prevail 3-2 in Pro League

There was little to separate the two sides in a cagey opening quarter. India adopted a patient approach but were quick to apply pressure on the Australian defence. Australia earned a penalty corner in the 10th minute, but India held firm to deny them. India’s best chance came late in the quarter, when a swift attacking move forced Australian goalkeeper Zoe Newman into a sharp double save.

But the second quarter resembled a training ground exercise of attack vs defend as India couldn’t lay a finger on the Hockeyroos at the other end of the pitch, constantly losing possession and putting the defence under pressure. As early as a minute into the second quarter, Schonell was at the end of a sharp pass from Grace Stewart and finished it with precision to give Australia the lead. In the 27th minute, a turnover from Navneet led to scrappy moments of play and a series of Australian shots on goal. Savita’s reflexes held up against two consecutive shots but on the second rebound, Pickering slotted it past the Indian Goalkeeper to double Australia’s lead. India were unable to create chances on goal before proceedings broke for half-time.

Momentum stayed with Australia as five minutes into the third quarter, Australia earned another penalty corner as their relentless pressure tested the Indian defence. The initial attempt was bravely defended by Sunelita Toppo. However, the sequence led to another penalty corner, which evolved to a penalty stroke as the ball rebounded from Savita’s save onto the body of Ishika Chaudhary on the line. India opted to swap goalies just for the stroke but Tatum Stewart stepped up and drilled it past goalkeeper Bichu Devi, extending Australia’s lead to 3–0.

India found much much-needed respite when they won a penalty corner with 68 seconds left in the quarter. Deepika was at the end of a crisp injection and flicked it in with precision to reduce the deficit to 1-3. The work Harendra Singh has been doing with the drag flickers was there to be seen in the finish.

India came out with all guns blazing in the fourth quarter, spurred by their goal. The Indian attack won three consecutive penalty corners in the 46th minute, but the scores were unchanged. India now played with a strong sense of urgency and put Australia under immense pressure. Australia buckled in the 52nd minute when they conceded another penalty scorer. Deepika’s low driven shot was well defended, but Neha pounced on the ball in the ensuing chaos and buried it with finesse at close range to make it 2-3. India looked to threaten with a series of quick moves, but the equaliser eluded them. In the dying embers of the match, silky stick work from Navneet helped her glide into the circle before she was brought down for another penalty corner. However, Australia retained the lead to secure the victory.

Prior to the start of the match, both teams observed a minute’s silence in memory of those who lost their lives in the recent aircraft tragedy in Ahmedabad.