FIH Pro League: India women suffer third defeat in a row with 3-0 loss against ruthless Australia

India suffered a third defeat in as many matches in the ongoing Women’s FIH Pro League, getting outplayed by Australia 3-0 at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday. Grace and Tatum Stewart scored in a space of four minutes in an action-packed second quarter to break the deadlock and put the Aussies in the lead after the Savita Punia-led Indian team started off on a spirited note. Kaitlin Nobbs would then catch the Indian defence napping in the final quarter and get into a 1v1 with keeper Punia, firing the ball between her legs to triple Australia’s lead and put the result beyond doubt. India were awarded as many as five penalty corners compared to Australia’s 1, and briefly held numerical superiority over their higher-ranked opponents with Dayle Dolkens and Hattie Shand sitting together in in the dugout after receiving yellow cards. The Indian team, however, simply couldn’t find a way past the Australian defence and failed to score a single goal for the first time in three outings in the ongoing Pro League. As It Happened | India vs Australia, Women’s FIH Pro League 2024 India started the match on the offensive, forcing Australia to concede a penalty corner in the second minute of the game but an alert visiting side goalkeeper Zoe Newman averted the danger. Both the teams created significant goal-scoring opportunities in the next couple of minutes but were unable to find the back of the board. Australia piled on the pressure as the first quarter came to a close but the Indian defence stood firm. As India continued to search for a goal in the second quarter Australia initiated a counter through Nobbs, who found herself open in the shooting circle and passed on the ball to Grace, who tapped the ball in to score the first goal of the game. Indian team tried creating chances but was unable to get it right in the striking circle. Soon after, Australia went for a quick counter through Amy Lawton but her reverse shot was battered away by Indian goalie Bichu Devi Kharibam. Halfway through the second quarter Australia earned a penalty corner and a drag-flick by Tatum doubled Australia’s lead. India pegged Australia back as the first half was drawing to a close and earned two penalty corners. However they failed to capitalise on either of them and the scoreline remained 0-2. The Hockeyroos were happy to sit back and absorb the pressure in the third quarter as India struggled to find a chink in their armour. India had the opportunity to score through a penalty corner in the last minute of the quarter but Udita slapped the ball wide and Australia retained their two-goal lead. India pressed hard in the last quarter and were awarded a penalty corner two minutes into the final 15 minutes of the game but Udita’s shot, from a variation, sailed wide of the post again. A few minutes later, Mumtaz Khan earned a penalty corner but the Indians once again failed to convert. Australia increased their lead as Nobbs rolled the ball through Savita’s leg to make it 3-0 with five minutes left in the game.

As the game drew to a close Navneet attempted a shot on goal but the Australian keeper was alert in front of the goal. The victory, Australia’s second in a row by a 3-0 margin, propelled the Hockeyroos to the third spot on the points table and will have given them some much needed confidence before they face current leaders Netherlands. India, on the other hand, will have to go back to the drawing board after a hat-trick of defeats and will hope to snap the six-match losing run when they face fellow strugglers USA, who lie at the bottom of the table with as many defeats as India. The two sides lock horns on Friday, 9 February after the Netherlands-Australia clash. With PTI inputs