Highlights, Champions Trophy Hockey 2018 FINAL, India vs Australia: Kookaburras win 15th title with 3-1 win in penalty shootout

JEREMY EDWARDS GETS THE LAST STRIKE.

SAD FOR INDIA. 

BUT THEY PLAYED WELL.

IN FACT DOMINATED THE PROCEEDINGS.

THE CHAMPIONS TROPHY GOES TO AUSTRALIA.

SILVER FOR INDIA FOR THE 2ND CONSECUTIVE TIME.

AND AUSTRALIA PUT IN THE LAST SHOT.

THEY WIN THE SHOOT-OUT 3-1.

AND THE CHAMPIONS TROPHY.

AUSTRALIA HAVE WON THE TROPHY FOR THE 15TH TIME.

GOAL!!

MANPREET SCORES. IT’S 1-2.

TOM CRAIG MISSES.

IT’S 2-0.

AFTER AUSTRALIA MISSES,

LALIT CANNOT GET THE GOAL.

IT’S 2-0.

HARMANPREET SINGH MISSES.

IT’S 0-2

DANIEL BEALE SCORES.

IT’S 2-0

SARDAR SINGH MISSES.

IT’S 0-1.

GOAL.

ZALEWSKI SCORES.

1-0

For a hockey final, cannot get better than having a shoot-out.

And the fans have it across the globe watching this Final.

India finalising their scorers.

Will be interesting to know who Harendra nominates.

It will be a shoot out.

Like the last Champions Trophy Final between India and Australia.

And that’s the countdown.

Game over.

It’s 1-1.

It will be a shoot-out.

It’s still 1-1.

And less than a minute left.

What a Miss!!!

Sunil moves in with rapid pace.

But Manpreet just cannot position and the chance goes.

Under 5 mins now.

Both teams looking for a break in the middle.

India attacking more.

But not putting the chances away.

Under 6 mins.

Getting tense now.

India playing up.

It’s 1-1.

Dilpreet shot.

Goalie saves.

One more Miss!!

Australia not eager to go in with 4-5 forwards.

Knowing a counter will spell trouble.

It’s 1-1.

Small errors will be punished.

India moving up. 

Manpreet hit goes over the line.

India needs to make it count.

Surender to the rescue.

Free hit for India.

Bad turn over from India.

But they manage to get it back.

4th Q starts.

India pushing upfront with Mandeep, Lalit.

Australia with the possession.

End of 3rd Q.

It’s 1-1 for both the teams.

India could easily have led.

But the Aussie goalkeeper Tyler right in position. Not giving a rebound away either.

Just under a minute left.

Build up from the flanks and don’t give the ball away.

Mandeep shot saved.

That was close for the Aussies.

Pace will be frenetic now.

India need to hold for two minutes.

Dominate the possession.

Rotate the ball.

Chinglensana cross and the ball rises.

Vivek hammers it in for 1-1.

GOAL!

Vivek, the 18-year-old has scored

IT’S 1-1.

Australia trying to kill the pace.

Another turn over against India.

But the offensive gives India space.

But he’s back.

Australia lead 1-0.

India dominating.

But no goals.

Harmanpreet seems to be injured.

Hobbling on the pitch.

No PC.

India need an equaliser now.

India asking for a referral.

They want a PC.

Almost!!

Surender hit and Mandeep scrambles to put it in.

Ball hits the post and comes out.

That was close.

India better do something about their PC’s.

Turn overs coming fast.

India on the defensive.

India wasting too many chances against the World Champions.

Indirect goes bad.

Good set up.

But Manpreet loses balance.

The referral has gone to India.

PC 4 coming up.

OHH…

Dilpreet squeezes in but it goes wide.

Lovely opening up from the defence.

And then Manpreet creates one for Dilpreet. But the Aussie defence is on it fast.

And the 3rd Q begins.

Australia straight away into attack.

Two minutes left for the 3rd Q.

Crucial one.

But India will still play a waiting game.

Opening up too much will give the Aussies space to make their swift attacks.

An equaliser from India will raise the tempo.

The Indians have to make it count now.

Apart from holding possession and not giving turn-overs, they have to strike.

Three PC’s blown over with good field attempts muffed.

The Indian forward line needs to supplement the good work by the defence.

India dominated a major part of the 1st and 2nd Q.

But doesn’t have anything to show for it.

Australia relied on counters and the Indian defence played well.

But the PC by Australia had pace and it went in off Sreejesh’ glove.

And that’s the break.

Australia lead 1-0.

Off a PC conversion, the only one they had in the 2nd Q.

Suddenly the defence relaxed and Zalewski took a shot.

Sreejesh saves.

Hopefully, India will not regret missing early chances.

Simranjeet Singh having a good game. 

Holding the midfield.

Hits the glove of Sreejesh and goes in.

Australia have scored against the run of play.

India held possession in the last ten minutes.

But the Aussies make it count.

!st PC for them. But they score.

GOAL!

Australia have the lead. Blake Govers powers it in

That was close.

But India manage to take the ball away.

Australia on the offensive.

But Australia have their 1st PC.

The Aussies not coming up.

India getting space to build.

The Indians have to make use of that extra space and get the goal.

Australia will try and go from the flanks.

India has been defending well and using the middle zone to attack also.

But it’s wasted.

Australian defence does a good job.

Maybe, time to try an indirect or get Varun or Rohidas to take one.

India’s 3rd PC coming up.

Thanks to Lakra.

Simranjeet creates an angular pass to Sunil.

But the shot is blown over the goal.

India missing opportunities.

Both teams back for the 2nd Q.

It’s goalless.

India needs to get some momentum going in th 2nd Q, right from the start.

And goals will put Australia under pressure.

Right now an attacking defence is giving India space and pace in the attack.

Australia use the aerial ball to release some pressure.

And that’s the end of the 1st Q.

India have a major say in the proceedings.

Two PC’s and two clear field attempts.

But Australia have held on.

India shouldn’t get carried away.

Need to hold the midfield and no turn-overs.

India playing pacy hockey. It’s fast and effective.

And what a MISS!

Surender to Dilpreet and then Sunil pulls the ball onto his own feet.

Australia building up now.

It’s an open midfield.

Indian defence holding good against another Aussie build-up.

Again the ball rolls slow. Probably the pitch drying up fast at that end.

India losing out on two PC’s early in the match.

They are still making the moves.

Bad injection. Still chances for Chinglensana and then Dilpreet.

But India get a 2nd PC.

1st PC for India.

Indian defence through Lakra and Surender also moving up.

Teams playing open hockey.

India asking for a referral.

They want a PC.

Attacks happening both ways.

India holding good.

But needs more penetration in the attacking zone.

Surender cross but too pact for any Indian forwards to pick up.

And that was close. But a raised ball by Australia.

Australia extremely fast on the counters.

India pressing from the flanks.

India have to show patience in building up.

And they are on their way.

Australia attacking off a turn-over.

Sreejesh coming out to pad it away.

Seconds away from what should be an exciting Final.

India Vs Australia coming up.

Teams coming out now.

In the middle of the pitch.

Big game for India.

Sets up their preparation on the back of this final.

And that’s the National Anthem.

On yet another warm day, After hosts Netherlands beat Argentina for the bronze, India now come out and take on the challenge of the World Champions Australia.

India have played with pluck till now in the tournament using an ultra-defensive approach to holding the opponents and using the counter as a surprise.

In the Champions Trophy, Australia has played India 16 times, winning 11 and losing twice with 3 drawn.

Earlier in the Pool, Australia beat India 3-2.

Australia in a record 35 CT appearances have the title 14 times with ten silver and 5 bronze.

India have played 15 Champions Trophies and have a silver and a bornze.

Hello and welcome to the Hockey Club, Breda.

It’s India Vs Australia in the final of the Champions Trophy.

Both India and Australia play the CT Final for the 2nd consecutive time.

Hello and welcome to Firstpost’s coverage of the Champions Trophy Hockey 2018 FINAL. 

In the summit clash, India take on Australia in what promises to be a closely contested match