Indian hockey team did double feat on Germany in FIH Pro League (Hockey India)
Abhishek, Selvam Karthi, Harmanpreet Singh and Jugraj Singh were on target for India.
India on Monday pulled off a double over Germany to go on top of the table in the FIH Hockey Pro League with a 6-3 win against the world champions.
Abhishek (22nd, 51st) and Selvam Karthi (24th, 46th) led India’s goal chase as the Harmanpreet Singh-led side bounced back after conceding the first goal to secure a hat-trick of wins in the tournament.
It was India’s second win over Germany in three days and took them to the top of the table with five wins (17 points).
India (+8) is ahead of Spain (+6) in terms of goal difference. India beat the reigning World Cup champions 3-2 in the first leg on Friday.
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Fresh off a thrilling 5-4 win against Australia, India conceded an early goal when Tom Grambush gave his team the lead in the third minute from a penalty corner.
But India soon came into action as Jugraj Singh converted a penalty corner in the 21st minute before Abhishek took the lead.
Selvam Karthi and captain Harmanpreet Singh (26th) ensured they were 4-2 up at half-time. This was the captain’s 11th goal in the Pro League season after scoring a hat-trick against Australia.
For Germany, Gonzalo Pilat (23rd, PC) and Malte Hellwig (31st) scored the remaining goals.
Germany took the lead after half time and made it 4-3 with a brilliant attack down the left.
An aggressive Kaufmann fed the ball to Miltkau who showed superb control and set it up for Hellwig to get the crucial touch to dive and put it past Pawan.
Germany were relentless with their attacks and credit must be given to the wind for thwarting all their moves and maintaining their 4–3 lead at the end of the third quarter.
A minute into the final quarter, Tamil Nadu forward Karthi completed his brace from a square pass from the right by Jarmanpreet Singh.
Tom Grambush failed in his attempt to intercept the pass as Carthy took advantage of the opportunity to make it 5–3.
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Abhishek then scored his double, using Dilpreet Singh’s powerful cross to complete the scoreline.
The German defense slowly crumbled under pressure as India registered their biggest win over the world champions. The biggest victory over Germany is an 8–1 victory at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
India will conclude the Rourkela phase with a reverse leg fixture against Australia on Wednesday.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)