Hockey World League Semifinal, Highlights: Britain Thump India 5-1 to Finish Third
India slumped to a heavy defeat as Great Britain grabbed the bronze place in the Hockey World League Semifinals on Sunday. Catch highlights of the game here.
After an impressive week in Antwerp, India found themselves in a dump as they were thrashed 1-5 by Great Britain. The Indian team led by Sardar Singh looked in woeful form and paid the price of a leaky defence to finish fourth in the World Hockey League Semifinals.
Catch highlights of the game here.
(All times in IST)
20:32: That's it! Britain finish fourth as India slump to a 1-5 defeat - a forgettable performance from Sardar Singh & Co.
20:27: Penalty corner: GOAL! Finally, India pulls one back as Rupinder Pal Singh fires one into the net.
20:20: Penalty Corner for India but Jasjit sprays it wide. Horrible strike from India. India have converted only four out of 19 penalty corners. Clearly shows their struggle.
20:18: India trying to attack but nothing happening for the Sardar Singh's team. Britain dominating the midfield.
20:13: India in all sort of trouble here. Britain pressing on, exerting pressure on the defence. A few more goals might be on the offing here.
End of third quarter: Britain lead 5-0 against India.
20:07: GOAL! A fifth one from Middleton - Indian defence in a disarray. Too easy for Britain here.
20:03: Another Penalty Corner for Britain - Another cracking save from Sreejesh and yet another penalty corner and GOAL! It has all gone wrong for India here. Great drag and then a super deflection puts the ball past Sreejesh.
20:02: Penalty Corner for Britain - And that's a good save from Sreejesh. That was hit with a lot of power but the Indian goalkeeper was up to it.
19:56: GOAL! Too easy that! Jackson has netted the third for Britain now. Indian defence completely outwitted by the beautiful counter-attack from Britain. India going down again, remember they conceded four against Belgium.
19:54: Sardar Singh penalised there - the Indian captain hasn't had his best game till now and the lack of coordination in the Indian team has been evident. Sardar misses the ball and Jackson on the run, going past two but fails to finish. Sreejesh had that covered.
19:50: Third Quarter - India on the offensive. Need to find goals but first need to get their passing together. Britain looking solid in the midfield and at the back.
19:45: India on the back foot - they need a strong response in the 2nd half. Paul van Ass needs have a few hard words to his players.
India need to regroup and come back stronger in the 2nd half
End of first half: Britain lead 2-0 against India
19:38: GOAL! India lost the referral and Chris Griffiths doubles the lead for Britain. Griffiths deflects home a Catlin pass and Sreejesh couldn't have done much there.
19:35: Good play from Manpreet, plays the ball to Satbir wide on the right, receives a wall pass and well done by the goal-keeper there who got off his line and smothered the attack.
19:32: Lakra to Lalit to Akashdeep - nice movement from India but Britain defence unbreachable. Counter from Britain and India under pressure again.
19:30: Britain look in firm control of the game - India scratching here, lots of shouting and screeching but things aren't happening for India. Satbir with a surging run here, Akashdeep in pursuit but the defender stops Satbir in his strides.
19:24: Quarter 2 - India has won only 27% of the games in which they have trailed in the first quarter and they surely look rusty today. Goal-line save from Rupinder as Britain looks to stretch the Indian defence.
End of first Quarter: Britain leads 1-0 against India
19:20: India on the attack looking for an equaliser but their attacks are breaking down too often. Lots of miss passes and that's the end of the first quarter.
19:16: Penalty Corner for Britain: Just as we said, great save from Sreejesh keeps India alive and GOAL! Nice work from Britain, sweeping cross in from Fox and Brogdan just deflects it past Sreejesh.
19:15: Nice attacking hockey from both sides, but the final pass has been missing. Both teams looking to get the early lead but no big opportunity till now for either of the sides.
19:12: Both teams trying to attack, however, the defences are standing tall. Ouch! That's a strong whack on Lakra's hand, that would hurt.
19:08: Midfield battle on here. Both teams trying to own the midfield Great run from Akashdeep, coming in from the left, dodges past two defenders but the goal-keeper came to the rescue for Britain.
19:00: Quarter 1 - The teams are out in the middle and the national anthems are being played. And we are off. India would love to finish the tournament on a high by finishing third and winning bronze while Britain too, would like to step up before the Euro hockey competition.
© NDTV
India's run in the tournament:
Belgium Thrash India to Progress to Final
India Defeat Malaysia to Enter Semis
India Succumb to Pressure in Australia
India Draw With Pakistan in Tense Match
Sardar Inspires India to Crushing Win Over Poland
Ramandeep's Late Goal Hands India Victory Against France
Preview
Laid low after suffering a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Belgium, India face a tough task in their bid to finish on the podium when they take on a tenacious Great Britain in the bronze medal match of the men's Hockey World League Semifinals here on Sunday.
Great Britain suffered a 3-1 loss to World champions Australia in the other semifinal, but not without giving the top-ranked Australian outfit a tough fight. It was just a few passes that went to the Australian strikers that let the British defence down. (Full Preview)