Highlights, Champions Trophy Hockey 2018, India vs Australia: Penalty corner woes prove costly for India in 2-3 loss

That’s it from the Champions Trophy.

After winning the first two matches, India have crashed against Australia. Seems to be a close game. But Australia held sway.

India could have equalised. But just those chances were blown up.

Australia 3 India 2.

THAT’S IT.

Australia have beaten India 3-2. Ran close in the end, but Australia held well.

The moment is gone.

Earlier Lalit couldn’t smash it in.

And then Harman couldn’t get the flick right.

PC 9th.

India need to create up front.

And they do.

India get their 9th PC. But Aus want a referral.

Under 2 minutes left.

Australia lead 3-2.

GOAL!

Harmanpreet slides it in. Finally a PC goal on the eighth attempt.

Scores cut to 2-3.

PC 8 now.

And it’s the 7th PC. Defender takes the ball on feet.

PC 6 coming up for India.

Time running out now.

India pull out Sreejesh.

Eleven field players.

Jarmanpreet Singh shot. Flashes wide.

Five minutes left.

Australia lead 3-1.

An Indian goal can create pockets of pressure

An Aussie goal at this stage will finish off the match.

But a Tim Brand deflection doesn’t work.

Australia ask for referral. Looking for a PC.

And they get their 7th PC.

We are down to 7 minutes.

Australia lead 3-1.

Story of missed chances and turn overs.

Dilpreet and Vivek make a hash of it with the Aussie goalie out of position.

Jarmanpreet cross to Dilpreet is long.

Hasty India losing possession.

Australia lead 3-1.

Australia has India pegged back.

Sardar giving the ball away easily.

Surprising that India has not played the aerial ball to forwards.

Last Quarter.

Australia up 3-1.

Sunil finds space but flashes wide.

Goal is what India needs to put some pressure.

End of the 3rd Q.

Australia lead 3-1.

Worst quarter for India. 

Hardly made a dent on the Aussie defences.

India need to build some advantage knowing Australia is down by a man.

But Lalit loses the ball and gives a counter to Australia.

Sreejesh makes a save of a Mitton shot.

Jake Harvie gets a yellow.

Australia down to ten men.

To get some belief back, India will need to score.

It’s been a crazy kind of a match. Both teams at times without a structure.

But the Aussies have controlled with less mistakes.

Manpreet and Sardar now need to control the midfield.

Otherwise this game is gone.

Apart from fatigue, the scoreline is staring them in the face.

Australia lead 3-1.

Sreejesh saves a direct flick. Defence clears it.

Australia get their 6th PC.

The momentum is with Australia.

They could easily build on the lead now.

Indian defence is playing up.

But that offensive is not being created.

Too hasty.

Sunil gives away a free turn-over.

India need a goal to build up some momentum.

They are giving away free balls to the Aussies.

That compactness in the match against Argentina is missing today.

At the moment, the game is going away from India.

Mistakes piling up.

Errors in the half.

They are under tremendous pressure to defend.

Australia have their 5th PC.

GOAL!

Trent Mitton deflects in off a Craig hit.

Australia  lead 3-1

Australia will try and take advantage of the numbers.

They have 2-3 minutes to get a goal as India will defend.

India have two players in the sin zone.

Sunil with a green card and now Manpreet has been sent off with a yellow which seems like an infrongement from the 2nd Q. Weird!!!

Teams coming out now for the 3rd Q.

India will have to equalise early in the 3rd quarter and put Australia under some pressure.

But more than that they have hold and not give away possession.

Giving away turn overs is leading to counters’, stretching the Indian players to constantly run back and defend.

At the break, Australia are ahead 2-1 in this crucial encounter.

India have blown 5 PC’s. Australia had 4.

India has created more circle entries. 

And they need to make that presence count.

Tempers rising in the heat.

Sunil and an Aussie get the green card.

Australia lead 2-1.

Off an counter, Manpreet fires in and the Aussie GK Tyler is alert to take it on the pads.

Brilliant stop by Sreejesh. Stops Blake Govers flick.

After India had cleared the PC, Australia want a referral for a back stick.

And they get the 4th PC.

Dangerous.

PC 3 for Australia.

Surender pulls the ball away over the line. That’s an infringement.

Under 5 mins left in the 2nd Q.

India need an equaliser.

They are dominating on the counter.

But missing out on PC’s and sharp chances in the circle.

Harmanpreet tries for an indirect but Mandeep has moved too ahead for the deflection.

5 PC’s gone up in smoke.

5th PC for India.

India have gone or a referral.

They are looking for a PC.

In fact, the first flick by Trent Mittton hit the post and came back into play.

Two brilliant saves by Sreejesh keeps the Aussies out.

Even though it’s an open game.

India need to settle down. Too many turn-overs in the midfield.

And that’s Australia’s 2nd PC. Off a counter.

Australia punishes on the counter.

Australia lead 2-1.

India need to make good their chances.

4 PC’s gone.

Two field attempts also blown.

Harmanpreet Singh flick saved by GK.

Sunil has a chance but doesn’t connect properly.

Ball still in Aussie half.

It’s a wasted PC.

Australia build a counter.

and then India get another PC from their counter.

Australia attacking on turn-overs.

But on a counter, India get their 3rd PC.

Time for the equaliser.

Can they?

2nd Q will be a toughie.

India would quickly look for an equaliser.

India could have avoided the 2nd goal. Messy defensive work, skirmish, Sreejesh misses and the ball falling free before Australia drive it in.

At 2-1, it’s advantage Australia.

GOAL. GOAL.

SEEMED LIKE A BEALE TOUCH IN THE END.

BUT WAS TOM CRAIG PUSH TOWARDS THE GOAL.

AUSTRALIA LEAD 2-1.

Sreejesh saves a Hayward flick.

But then Australia take the lead of a skirmish in the circle.

And Australia have their 1st PC of the match.

50 odd seconds remain in the 1st Q.

Sardar gets a green card.

India defending an Aussies attack.

Mandeep’s strike goes off the Aussies’ gloves. 

India finding momentum.

Vivek comes close. But the push from outside the circle doesn’t touch an Indian stick before going into the Aussie goal.

It’s 1-1.

India made a mess of the 2nd PC.

But Sunil did well enough to retrieve.

His cross found Varun whose first timer fired into goal for India’s equaliser.

Goal!

India 1, Australia 1

And that’s the 2nd PC for India.

Lakra make a mess of the stop. 

PC wasted.

1st PC for India.

India need to re group fast.

Trying to pierce through the middle.

But Aus is playing wide. Covering zones well.

Patented Aussie move.

India’s defensive error in not looking over their shoulder. 

Lachlan Sharp taps in to give Australia the lead. 1-0.

Goal!

Sharp scores for Australia. It’s 1-0!

With Chris Ciriello in their ranks, India have an advantage to what Australia can throw at us.

Aussies looking for that early goal that always defines their attacking hockey.

India trying to work their way through the midfield.

Aussies keeping it tight.

Tom Craig has a shot. But shoots over.

First foray into the striking circle goes to Australia.

India have to avoid turn-overs.

Match on.

It’s an extremely warm day.

But would suit both the teams.

Hello and welcome to _Firstpost’_s coverage of Champions Trophy Hockey 2018, where PR Sreejesh-led India take on world champions Australia in their third match. Stay tuned for LIVE scores and updates.