IND vs GER: International hockey returned to New Delhi after a long time but the Indian team was disappointed. The Indian hockey team lost the 2-match test series against Germany. In the first match played at the Major Dhyanchand Stadium, Germany defeated India 2-0. In the second match, the Indian team managed to defeat Germany 5-3. However, after this, there was a shootout for the result of the series in which India had to face defeat by 1-3. In the shootout, Harmanpreet, Abhishek, and Mohammad Rahil missed the target while Aditya Arjun Lalge, who made his debut in the Indian team, scored a goal. India’s goalkeeper Krishan Bahadur Pathak saved two goals but could not save his team from defeat.
In the second test, Eliane Mazkur (7th and 57th minute) scored two goals for Germany and Henrich Mertens scored one in the 60th minute. India won in the second half based on goals scored by Sukhjeet Singh (34th and 48th minute), captain Harmanpreet Singh (42nd and 43rd), and Abhishek (45th minute).
There was a tremendous competition in the match.
India started aggressively in the second test match but failed to penetrate the German defense. After this, Germany took advantage and opened their account in the 7th minute with a goal by Elian. Two minutes later, Aditya had a great chance to score an equalizer but Germany’s goalkeeper Joshua N Onyekwo dashed the hopes of the Indian team by making a wonderful save. In the first four minutes of the second half, India played aggressively and scored three penalty corners but could not open the account. Harmanpreet gave India the lead by converting two penalty corners within a minute. Sukhjeet scored a goal in the 34th minute and Abhishek scored the fourth goal for India.
Germany won the shootout.
Sukhjeet scored a goal on a reverse hit by diving and beating the German goalkeeper on a long pass in the 48th minute. However, three minutes before the hooter, Germany reduced the gap on the basis of Elian’s goal. Since both the teams won one match each, the series was decided in a shootout. The German team won in this.