Conceding goal in the dying minutes of the contest against Spain should be a worrying factor for the team management including men’s chief national hockey coach Craig Fulton
Indian regular skipper and ace drag flicker Harmanpreet Singh was given a break on the Australian leg of FIH Men’s Pro League by Hockey India due to a shoulder niggle, it is learnt.
Hardik Singh was given the reign of skipper on the Australian leg of FIH Men’s Pro League being played in Hobart. So far Hardik Singh’s coronation as skipper didn’t go as expected lines.
On Tuesday (February 24), Spain came from behind to level the score 1-all in a 59th-minute goal through Bruno Font. Earlier Maninder Singh had put India in the lead in the 19th minute. In the shootout, India lost 3-4 to Spain.
Spain started on a positive note but were unsuccessful to open their account in the first quarter. Even India missed penalty corner in the 14th minute as Amit Rohidas’s drag-flick was denied by Spanish goalkeeper Luis Calzado.
India got a breakthrough in the 19th minute. Skipper Hardik Singh paved the way for the opening goal. His accurate pass to Maninder, who neatly placed the ball beyond the reach of the rival keeper to give India a 1-0 lead.
Spain responded by winning a penalty corner, but Pepe Cunill’s shot was saved by Suraj Karkera.
In the third quarter, Spain pressed but the Indian keeper under the bar did a good job. Spain was reduced to 10 men following a green card for Fortuno. India nearly capitalised on the advantage in the 44th minute, but Calzado made a good save.
The final quarter saw India reduced to 10 men after Sanjay received a green card in the 45th minute. Spain quickly won a penalty corner, but Karkera stood tall once again. As Spain pushed desperately for an equaliser, India found spaces on the counter. Vishnukant Singh won a penalty corner in the 52nd minute, but Rohidas missed the target. Minutes later, Rajinder Singh also failed to increase the lead.
With India trying to run down the clock, a costly defensive lapse in the 59th minute allowed Bruno Font to strike a superb equaliser.
In the shootout, Abhishek and Hardik Singh missed which proved costly as India lost 3-4. And earned a single point from the hard-fought encounter.
India will next take on Australia in the fourth game of the Hobart leg of the FIH Men’s Pro League 2025-26 on Wednesday (February 25).
EOM
