Tokyo 2020: India suffered a crushing defeat with a score of 1: 7 from Australia
India suffered a crushing 1-7 defeat to a ruthless Australia on Sunday in men’s hockey at the Tokyo Olympic Games. India conceded three goals in five minutes in the second quarter, almost depriving themselves of the chance to beat the team that took the first place.
The match had a relatively quiet start and it was India that got the first penalty corner in the eighth minute of the first quarter. Harmanpreet Singh, who scored twice in India’s opening game against New Zealand, dragged his flick wide. Australia then two PCs in a row two minutes later and Daniel Beal converted the second to give them a 1-0 lead. A couple of chances came at both ends in the next five minutes as India went into the end of the first quarter trailing by a goal.
Australia came out all guns blazing in the second quarter, forcing a couple of big saves from Sreejesh before Jeremy Hayward scored from the second of two back to back PCs they got in the 21st minute.
Flynn Ogilvie scored Australia third goal two minutes later and Joshua Beltz put in their fourth in the 26th minute and at half time, India were trailing by four goals to none.
India made a good start in the second half, winning a number of penalty corners. Dilpreet Singh, who had received a green card towards the end of the second quarter, came back in the 32nd minute and scored in the 34th to give India some hope.
Six minutes later, however, Australia got a penalty stroke and Blake Govers restored their four-goal lead. This was extended to five goals in the 42nd minute when Govers converted a penalty corner with a brilliant drag flick.
Australia were looking at managing the game for much of the fourth quarter, not allowing India time on the ball and threatening to score whenever they got a chance. Tim Brand forced a save from Sreejesh in the 47th minute, only to score later in the 51st with a brilliant shot from a tight angle to make it 7-1.
India had earlier beaten New Zealand 3-2 in their opening match of the Olympics. They face Spain next on Tuesday.
