Professional League: Kookaburras Play Out 9-goal Thriller Towards India

A gallant never-say-die Kookaburras outfit has gone all the way down to a Harmanpreet Singh impressed India 5-4 in a pulsating FIH Professional League encounter at Rourkela’s Birsa Munda Stadium.

After Josh Beltz put the Kookaburras forward early, the hosts replied in emphatic style to guide 4-1 at half time earlier than the Australians mounted a stirring comeback.

Nevertheless, a hat-trick from Harmanpreet and a few determined Indian defending late on prevented the Kookaburras from taking any factors out of the extremely spirited contest.

Among the many positives for the Kookaburras was a primary worldwide purpose for Ben Staines in simply his second recreation.

With India getting into the match off a relaxation day, whereas the Kookaburras had been backing up 24 hours after their slim loss to Germany, the hosts despatched an early warning shot via Gurjant Singh.

Nevertheless, it was the Kookaburras who went forward with their first foray ahead within the third minute.

Tasmanians Jack Welch and Beltz mixed beautifully down the left, the latter directing a ball in the direction of Craig Marais on the far put up which brought about confusion between Indian goalkeeper Sreejesh and considered one of his defenders ensuing within the ball ending up over the purpose line.

Aran Zalewski did nicely to dam a purpose certain Harmanpreet drag flick as India loved a string of penalty corners, nonetheless the Kookaburras had been resolute in defence.

The Kookaburras had been enjoying with nice power and Staines virtually completed off a slick transfer, solely to see his shot blocked by an approaching Sreejesh.

Harmanpreet then turned the sport on its head when he transformed two drag flicks in as many minutes to place India in entrance at quarter time.

Eddie Ockenden was proven a yellow card within the play that led to Harmanpreet’s second purpose and India made the a lot of the Australian video games file holder’s absence to go 3-1 up within the 18th minute.

Karthi Selvam then unleashed an unstoppable shot into the highest nook to additional lengthen the margin. Regardless of having only one much less shot within the first half the Kookaburras went into half time with a 3 purpose deficit.

Jacob Anderson stung the gloves of Pawan with a shot in the hunt for a fast response earlier than Ky Willott pegged a purpose again after superb construct up play from Tim Howard and James Collins.

Anand Gupte went near slicing the result in one, his nicely taken drag flick saved nicely by Pawan within the Indian purpose.

Staines then made it 4-3, pouncing on a rebound from a penalty nook to hit a sweetly timed shot that hammered into the backboard with 8 minutes remaining.

One other on track Harmanpreet drag flick put the margin again out to 2 with 5 minutes left earlier than defender Howard arrange an exciting finale when he made it 5-4 with simply his second worldwide purpose in 109 appearances.

Goalkeeper Ben Rennie got here off with three and a half minutes to play because the Kookaburras regarded to reap the benefits of an additional discipline participant.

The vast majority of the ultimate two minutes was performed within the Kookaburras’ attacking 25 metre space however they may not discover a late equaliser.

“I believed it was a very good match performed in actually good spirits so it’s a disgrace so many individuals obtained carded,” mentioned Zalewski.

“5 targets in opposition to is disappointing and sadly we didn’t get on the top of the best end result as we speak.”

The Kookaburras now have a relaxation day earlier than a second encounter in opposition to Germany on 14 March.

The FIH Professional League is broadcast in Australia on FOX Sports activities, obtainable on Foxtel and Kayo.

Match Particulars
India 5 (Harmanpreet 14’/15’/55’, Jugraj 18’, Karthi Selvam 26’)
Kookaburras 4 (J.Beltz 3’, Willott 43’, Staines 52’, Howard 56’)
@ Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium, Rourkela

Kookaburras: 4.Jake Harvie, 8.Johan Durst (gk), 9.Jacob Anderson, 10.Josh Beltz, 11.Eddie Ockenden, 12.Jake Whetton, 15.Jayden Atkinson, 16.Tim Howard, 17.Aran Zalewski (c), 18.Ben Rennie (gk), 19.Craig Marais, 20.Ky Willott, 21.Jack Welch, 26.James Collins, 33.Hayden Beltz, 36.Anand Gupte, 44.Ben Staines, 48.Davis Atkin