Highlights, Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2018, India vs Ireland: Sardar Singh and Co slump to 2-3 defeat

It will be interesting to hear the Coach on this. But India are rattled completely. They again now come on tomorrow to play Ireland.

What is amazing is that right after the 1st Q, India lost the game plan. Ireland hit them from the flanks and the middle. The Indian defence didn’t have any answer.

Going into the CWG, this is a bad loss. India has 7-8 seniors sitting in Bangalore. But such losses haunt teams.

Even with youth in the team, that’s no excuse now. This team played without a plan. Ireland knew where to stop them. And they did.

Extremely bad game from India. No control. No pace. Ireland were the better team on the day. They knew what exactly to do.

AND THAT’S IT.

Ireland have beaten India 3-2. India now out of a place in the final and will now play for 5th/6th position with Ireland again.

Less than 30 seconds to go. Ireland seconds away from a win against India.

Just a minute left. Ireland lead 3-2.

Without a point in this tournament, Ireland are barely two mins away from a full win.

Less than three minutes and Ireland take their time on the ball.

Less than three minutes left. Ireland lead 3-2. Defeat staring at India.

India have their 5th PC. But wasted.

Four minutes left. Ireland lead 3-2.

But no space inside the Irish circle.

India have pulled off their goalkeeper.

Rohidas flicks over. It’s 3-2 to Ireland. Six minutes left.

India have their 4th PC. Can they make it count?

India from an attacking mode give the ball to Ireland. It’s 3-2 to Ireland and 7 mins remaining.

Ireland playing better hockey. They keeping the ball and making the clock tick.

Sumit Kumar had the space but the Irish crowd the defence. Ireland keeping India away.

With the gaps at the back, it won’t be surprising that Ireland score another.

If they can’t find field goals, India will have to create PC’s. Ten minutes remaining.

India showing ball skills when the pass matters here. No excuses here for being 2-3 down.

Ireland now playing man-to-man marking. They sense a win here.

Last and 4th Q begins. India have to stop the aimlessly running and focus on giving the right pass. One more goal from Ireland and the match is gone.

India just not playing with speed on the flanks. Not a single move coming through the flanks in the 3rd Q. The defence is shaky.

That’s the end of the 3rd Q. India have 15 minutes to find an equaliser and then the match-winner. Can they?

Ireland is taking apart India here. Not because they have the lead. They are playing intelligently. That was a lovely flick deflected in.

GOAL. GOAL.

Ireland stun India taking the lead 3-2. Lee Cole scores

And that’s Ireland’s 2nd PC. Dangerous now.

Time ticking away in the 3rd Q. India attack but can’t put the ball in.

Ireland controlling the pace. India have to be careful or they will give the lead away.

India have lost a referral. They also lose out on an opportunity as Gurjant hits wide.

Terrible defence by India. They watched Shane’s cross go through and find Murray. Nobody tried to stop the ball. Soft goal.

GOAL. GOAL.

Ireland get the 2nd equaliser. Sean Murray sees his flick go in. 

It’s 2-2

Too many turn-overs being given by India. Instead of developing the move, they are passing it to the Irish sticks.

India inside the Irish circle. But Ireland defend well. They are keeping Gurjant, Lakra and Ramandeep away.

Even if Ireland is not attacking much, they seem a little better structured.

Teams are back on the field. And India begin their hunt for more goals.

India need goals against Ireland if they have any outside chance of making it to the Azlan Final. They lead 2-1.

India lead 2-1 at the break. There have been moments of good play. India not focused on going in with a plan. Individual skills upfront look good but they are not getting the goals.

India save the PC. Karkera takes it on the glove. That’s the break. India lead 2-1 after 2 Quarters.

And with 15 seconds to go in the 2nd Q, India have conceded a PC. It’s Ireland’s 1st PC.

Nilakanta to Ramandeep who gives it to Talwinder but the reverse shot is saved by Irish GK Jamie Carr.

Ireland crowding the defence. Not too much space for India to take snap shots.

Three minutes to go in the 2nd Q. India trying to control the game. They lead 2-1.

GOAL. GOAL.

Amit Rohidas’ flick flies into the the top of the goal. It’s 2-1 to India

India get their 3rd PC.

Bad defensive play by India. Huge gaping hole on the left as the Irish gleefully take the opportunity and get the equaliser. Good goal from Shane.

GOAL. GOAL.

Ireland score. It’s 1-1. Shane O’Donoghue flicks it in. Defence caught napping

India giving away too many turn overs. Not playing with patience.

India needs to play with a little more focus. They are all over the place. But not making the right passes. Goals needed for India.

Lakra to Ramandeep but his hit is past the post. Great opportunity to draw out a rebound.

It’s been overturned by the video umpire. No PC to Ireland.

Ireland have a PC. But India wants a referral.

Great cross from Rohidas to Lakra. But nobody to pick up his pass.

2nd Q begins. Nice aerial by Varun. But Lakra doesn’t control.

That’s the end of the 1st Q. India lead 1-0.

Ireland working their way back. Nice try in the Indian striking circle. Karkera saves.

Now it’s Shilanand Lakra trying to take on the Irish defence. Indians need to pass the ball faster.

Sumit Kumar weaves in. Wants to do individual trickery. Doesn’t see better placed Indian forwards. Effort wasted.

But Varun flicks wide. PC wasted.

Sumit Kumar goes in. India attacking. It’s the 2nd PC for India.

GOAL. GOAL.

Varun going for the corner. But, Ramandeep deflects it in. India lead 1-0

Nilam Xess picks up an aerial, races through. And India get their 1st PC.

India using the left flank through Lakra and Nilakanta.

Gurjant Singh cross now. But the Irish have it covered.

Nice tackle by Surender. Sets up a move. But the rotation and then the ball is over the line.

Sumit cross but it flies over the Irish goal. India in a haste. They have the skills. Hold it. Create space.

Sumit cross. But the Irish defend before Sumit Kumar gets the ball.

Nice tackle by Sumit Kumar. But India lose the initiative.

And the match begins. Ireland trying to create gaps.

It’s a clear sky. The sun is out. Hopefully, we get a lot of goals to watch.

India will be using their experience of playing big matches and would want to rattle Ireland early.

That’s the Indian National Anthem. And we should shortly be on our way.

Teams are on the pitch. It’s going to be the National Anthem for Ireland.

The 1-1 draw against England cost India dear in terms of points. Three instead of one would have enabled India to play the final, provided we had beaten Ireland.

India is starting with Suraj Karkera in goal. Suraj played the entire last match against Malaysia. One doesn’t know if Uthappa will be played as he was injured and didn’t play against Malaysia.

Can India make it to the final? Difficult. First they need to beat Ireland and climb to 7 points, the same as Argentina. And then hope that Eng and Mas play a draw. But India will have to score 4 plus to make sure of the goal difference.

But a few early goals, do put pressure either way. In the 2017 Azlan Shah Cup, India gave the lead to Japan twice and finally walked away with a 4-3 victory. So teams lower down the ranking can pull out something special.

India really haven’t played many matches with Ireland. Till now in the Head to Head it reads. India played 7, won 5, drawn 1 and lost 1.

Welcome to the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup. It’s India Vs Ireland.

India will need to beat Ireland by a huge margin to hold on to slim chances of making it to final

Today’s fixtures

Hello and welcome to Firstpost’s coverage of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup match between India and Ireland