Champions Trophy Hockey, India vs Australia Highlights: India Lose 2-3 To Defending Champions Australia

India fought valiantly before going down 2-3 to world champions Australia to slump to their first defeat in the FIH Champions Trophy hockey tournament on Wednesday. Australia produced their best show of the tournament and scored through Lachlan Sharp (6th minute), Tom Craig (15th) and Trent Mitton (33rd) to secure full points. The Indians, however, did not give up and fought till the end, scoring through Varun Kumar (10th) and Harmanpreet Singh (58th), producing a nail-biting finish. The loss meant India slumped to third spot in the standings with six points from two wins behind hosts Netherlands (6 points), while Australia climbed to the top with seven points from three games. The top two sides after the round robin stage of the six-team event will play in the fina of the tournament on Sunday. India will next play Belgium on Thursday.

Highlights between India vs Australia, Champions Trophy Hockey straight from BH & BC Hockey Stadium, Breda

20:13 IST: AUSTRALIA BEAT INDIA 3-2

20:08 IST: GOAL!!! Harmanpreet scores as India make it 2-3 against Australia. INDIA 2-3 AUSTRALIA

20:07 IST: Penalty corner for India.

19:59 IST: Penalty corner for Australia.

19:58 IST: 7 minutes to go in the match.

19:53 IST: Sardar Singh snatches the ball, runs and hits it hard. Excellent work from Australian goalkeeper.

19:51 IST: The fourth and final quarter is underway. Can India bounce back?

19:48 IST: THIRD quarter comes to an end. AUSTRALIA 3-1 INDIA.

19:46 IST: YELLOW CARD! Harve booked by referee.

19:41 IST: What a save from Sreejesh. Harmanpreet sweeps the ball away.

19:40 IST: Penalty Corner for Australia.

19:35 IST: GOAL!!! Mitton scores as Australia take 3-1 lead against India

19:28 IST: Both teams are in the middle. The third quarter is underway.

19:20 IST: A goalless second quarter comes to an end. AUSTRALIA 2-1 INDIA.

19:19 IST: Mandeep dribbles the ball. Hayward snatches the ball in style.

19:18 IST: Sreejesh at his best once again. What an effort from him. He saved the goal with sheer brilliance.

19:17 IST: Video referral and another Penalty Corner has been awarded to Australia.

19:14 IST: Penalty Corner for Australia. India players block the shot superbly.

19:12 IST: Penalty Corner for India. Sardar Singh will take the PC.

19:11 IST: India have asked for a referral.

19:10 IST: Chance for India.

19:09 IST: Sreejesh at his best again.

19:08 IST: Penalty Corner for Australia

19:05 IST: GREEN CARD to Harmanpreet Singh. Referee issues warning to him.

19:04 IST: Penalty Corner for India. Team India misses another chance.

19:02 IST: Mandeep snatches the ball and runs towards Australia goalpost.

18:58 IST: End of first Quarter. INDIA 1-2 AUSTRALIA

18:57 IST: GOAL!!! Craig scores as Australia take 2-1 lead against India

18:55 IST: Brilliant save by goalkeeper Sreejesh.

18:54 IST: Penalty Corner for Australia

18:49 IST: GOAL!!!!!!! Varun Kumar equalises for India. Huge celebration by the Indian team. INDIA 1-1 AUSTRALIA

18:48 IST: Another Penalty corner for India,

18:47 IST: Good defence by Australia.

18:46 IST: Penalty corner for India.

18:44 IST: Brilliant defending by Harmanpreet Singh.

18:41 IST: GOAL!! Lachlan Sharp scores in 6th minute as Australia take 1-0 lead against India.

18:39 IST: Chance for Australia but a brilliant work from Sreejesh denies the Aussies a lead.

It's PUSHBACK! The Indian Men's Team third clash of the Rabobank Men's Hockey Champions Trophy Breda 2018 against the @Kookaburras is now underway!#IndiaKaGame #HCT2018 #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/k44O7qt746

— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) June 27, 2018

18:37 IST: Final whistle and the match is underway.

18:34 IST: India suffered defeat at the hands of Australia in 2016 Champions Trophy hockey final.

18:33 IST: Both the teams are in the middle for their national anthems.

18:00 IST: Here's the starting XI of the Indian men's hockey team:

Here is the Starting XI of the Indian Men's Hockey team who will face Australia for their third clash of the Rabobank Men's Hockey Champions Trophy Breda 2018 at 6:30 PM (IST) today! #IndiaKaGame #HCT2018 #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/Gt5ISPs05l

— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) June 27, 2018

17:00 IST: India have played 15 times against Australia over previous editions of the FIH Champions Trophy, scoring 24 goals in the process. Can Team India bring the same goal-scoring touch to the game today? 

14:30 IST: Hello and welcome to the Live updates from Champions Trophy hockey 2018 match between India and Australia.

The Indian team earned their first winning points against arch-rivals Pakistan with a stupendous 4-0 win followed by a spirited 2-1 victory against Olympic Champions and World No.2 Argentina in a closely fought encounter to find themselves on top of the pool table. In these two matches, the team showed a distinct hunger to win as they played to strategy, exhibiting aggressive yet structured and disciplined hockey. "We made some key changes in how we defend and attack during our preparations for this tournament. I think one of the main elements is that our strikers are willing to take that extra risk in the circle knowing well enough that the defenders will support them if by chance they lose the ball. I think this change in attitude made them play freely in the first two matches and defending well was our priority," expressed Chief Coach Harendra Singh in retrospect.

In the first match against Pakistan, India made 22 circle entries, took six shots on goal out of which four were converted and held 49.3 per cent ball possession while against Argentina, India made 18 circle entries took six shots and goal converting two and were on par with the Olympic Champions in terms of ball possession.

The defending champions are placed second behind India in the Pool table after having drawn 3-3 against Belgium and won 2-1 against Pakistan. The match against Australia will be followed by a clash against World No. 3 Belgium on Thursday. India needs to come up with something special yet again if they want to see themselves in the final. Harendra's words to his team ahead of the crucial matches is simple, "Continue to show that hunger to win if you want to see yourself in the final."