FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers: India go down in penalty shootout to Germany; face Japan in bronze medal match

India’s hopes of qualifying directly for the Paris Olympics were dashed when they lost 3-4 in a penalty shootout to Germany in the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers. Played in Ranchi, the two teams were locked at 2-2 at the conclusion of the regulation 60 minutes. Germany join the USA in booking their spots into the Summer Games on Thursday. USA beat Japan 2-1 in the first semi-final on the day with a come-from-behind win. Japan will now take on India in the bronze medal match on Friday, the winner of that will qualify for the Paris Games. In the penalty shootout, India led 2-1 and had multiple opportunities to put the game to bed. However, the hosts missed their chances as Germany crawled their way back. Lalremsiami scored at 2-3 to keep the penalty shootout alive with backs against the wall. In sudden death, with teams changing order of attempts, Lisa Nolte’s no-look nutmeg on India goalkeeper and captain Savita Punia guaranteed Germany their Paris Olympic quota. Earlier in regulation time, Deepika (15th minute) and Ishika Chaudhary (59th) were the goal-scorers for India, while Germany’s both goals were scored by Charlotte Stapenhorst (27th, 57th). Germany attacked from the onset and exerted continuous pressure on the Indian defence on a foggy night. The Germans were right on their money with their strategy and made numerous circle entries. The visitors kept up the pressure and won a penalty corner in the ninth minute but Punia was up to the task. The Indians, too, made a few circle penetrations but lacked in finishing. With Ranchi’s-own MS Dhoni watching on, the home side fought back valiantly to trouble the German defence with their speed. Just 55 seconds from the end of the first quarter, India secured their first penalty corner and Deepika slammed home with a powerful drag-flick to stun the Germans. India grew in confidence after the goal and attacked Germany continuously, which witnessed a few goal-mouth scrambles but goals eluded them. The relentless Germans were in no mood to sit back and attacked in numbers after being going down. Lack of coordination from the Indian midfield and inability to clear loose balls cost the hosts dearly as Germany equalised three minutes from half-time when Stapenhorst scored from a field effort. In the 35th minute, India got a great chance to take the lead from a counter-attack but Deepika’s push from close range was easily padded away by German goalkeeper Julia Sonntag. Germany’s continuous pressure and attack became too much to handle for the Indian defence in the 57th minute. Stapenhorst scored her second goal of the day to stun the capacity crowd at the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Astro Turf Hockey Stadium, capitalising on a lose control from Sonika. The Indians, however, did not give up and secured back-to-back penalty corners in the 59th minute, the second of which was put into the goal by Ishika from a rebound, forcing the match into the shoot-out. In the shootout, Savita made fines but Navneet Kaur, Neha Goyal, Sangita Kumari and Sonika missed their opportunities to score to hand Germany the match and ticket to the Paris Games.