Indian conceded a last minute goal to launch their World Cup hockey campaign with a heartbreaking 2-3 defeat against Germany on Wednesday.
MONCHENGLADBACH (Germany): Indian conceded a last minute goal to launch their World Cup hockey campaign with a heartbreaking 2-3 defeat against defending champions Germany on Wednesday.
The spirited Indians were level 2-2 till the dying minutes of the opening Pool B match before Christopher Zeller's brilliant deflection just at the stroke of the hooter sealed their fate at Warsteiner Hockey Park.
Shivender Singh (55th and 65th minutes) brought India back into the match after the Germans took lead twice through goals by Zeller (26th) and Oliver Hentschel (58th).
The Indians did well to shed their defensive garb of the first-half to knock in two goals through Shivendra, but the past revisited them when they conceded a late goal that cost them three points.
Barring the lone Zeller penalty corner goal, there was little to separate the teams with both resorting to wait-and-watch approach. Though the Germans appeared a wee bit sharper, the Indian deep defence performed well to repel the few attacks that the home team launched.
Zeller was to be the danger man for India, for he nearly scored in the ninth minute after breaking through from the left and essaying a reverse hit just inches off the far post.
Baskaran disappointed
India coach V Baskaran described the defeat as disappointing. “We played well, especially in the second-half, when we should have scored more than just two goals. But the German goalkeeper was outstanding.
However, at the end of the day, it is the result that counts and not how we played,” Baskaran said. He admitted that his team was rather sluggish and defensive in the first-half.
“When we went down by a goal, I was not too happy with our body language. During the break, I urged the boys not to give up and go on the attack. The result was there for you to see. I thought we were outstanding in the second-half, but I am extremely disappointed with the result,” he said. --PTI
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