Australia once again proved to be a thorn in the Indian men’s team’s flesh as the hosts came back from being 0-1 down to beat Roelant Oltmans’s side 3-2 in the first match of the four-nations tournament in Melbourne.
Rupinder Pal Singh gave India the lead in the second quarter of the game through a penalty corner, but the Aussies struck back immediately through Jeremy Hayward, who netted a brace. Towards the end of the third quarter, the Kookaburras doubled their lead from Trent Mitton’s penalty corner.
Rupinder Pal Singh pulled a goal back for India with seven minutes left on the clock for full time, making for a tense finish to the game but the Australian defence held on to grab the win.
Buoyed by their recent success, India started on a positive note and showed good intensity going forward. Rupinder Pal Singh’s strike put India on course for victory, but two minutes later, they conceded a penalty corner of the their own, and were punished by Hayward.
Australia’s second goal, which was scored by Hayward six minutes into the second half, deflated the Indians. Closing on the third quarter, India went 1-3 down as their discipline at the back went awry, conceding another penalty corner, which was converted by Mitton.
Rupinder Pal Singh’s ferocious strike seven minutes from time gave India hopes of staging a comeback but the efficiency and the experience of the Aussies kept India’s forwards out of harm’s way to see out the game. India’s second match will be against Malaysia on the 24th.
Brief scores:
Australia 3 (Jeremy Hayward x 2, Trent Mitten) beat India 2 (Rupinder Pal Singh x 2)