Rio Olympics 2016 Hockey India vs Germany Highlights: Last-Gasp Goal Sinks India, Germany Stay on Top of Pool B
A last-gasp goal sealed the deal for defending champions Germany as India suffered an agonising 2-1 loss in a Pool B encounter on Monday. Catch hockey highlights between India vs Germany here.
India suffered a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat at the hands of Germany in a Pool B hockey match on Monday, after Christopher Ruhr's last-gasp winner for the holders. Earlier, Rupinder Pal Singh's goal had cancelled out Nicklas Wellen's opener for Germany in the second quarter. Catch hockey highlights between India vs Germany here. (INDIA SCHEDULE | MEDAL TALLY | NEWS)
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20:53 IST: Christopher Ruhr wins it for Germany with a last-gasp goal. India sink to an agonising 2-1 defeat.
20:51 IST: Less than two minutes' action left in this match. Will we see a winner?
20:47 IST: India continue to pile the pressure, but Germany are still holding fort.
20:44 IST: The Germans clear the corner. It continues to be 1-1.
20:43 IST: And India have their third penalty corner after Haner impedes Sunil. Germany down to 10 men.
20:42 IST: India trying the find a few gaps through the flanks, but the German backline has no trouble in dealing with the Indian raids. It's still 1-1 in Rio.
20:39 IST: Germany have  their first penalty corner of the match, but the ball is cleared by the Indian backline.
20:37 IST: An Indian raid is thwarted by the German goalie, who dives to the ground to intercept the ball. It's still 1-1.
20:35 IST: The fourth quarter starts, and India are on the attack straightaway.
20:33 IST: A closely fought third quarter comes to close. Can either of the teams take the lead in the final quarter?
20:30 IST: India attacking well but no finishing touches to their field goal efforts.
20:26 IST: Brilliant flick by Rupinder Pal but good save by the German goalie. India have really upped the ante. They have to hold on to their energies.
20:25 IST: India win their second penalty corner midway through the third quarter.
20:22 IST: Germany have the possession but can't open up the Indian defence. Five minutes gone in third quarter and it is still 1-1.
20:17 IST: The third quarter gets underway in Rio.
20:08 IST: The second quarter ends 1-1. India have done well to match the pacy Germans. India's short-corner conversion rate will be key in this match.
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20:02 IST: A close call for the German goal. It could have been India's second goal but Nikkin is thwarted by the German goalie after Raghunath muscled in a good pass. It is 1-1 with less than five minutes left.
20:00 IST: Rupinder Pal Singh scores with a rasping flick to the goalie's right. It is his third goal of Rio 2016. Scores level 1-1 midway through the quarter.
19:58 IST: India win their first penalty corner in the eighth minute of second quarter.
19:55 IST: Germany have shifted gears after the 18th minute goal. The pace of their attacks is really making the Indians sweat.
19:51 IST: Germany take the lead in the third minute of second quarter. Brilliant field goal by Niklas Wellen.ÂÂ
19:49 IST: The second quarter commences in Rio. Can India unlock the well-organised German defence?
19:48 IST: Meanwhile, Laxmirani Majhi bows out of the women's individual recurve event in archery after losing to Alexandra Longova of Slovakia in the Round of 64..
19:46 IST: The first quarter ends 0-0. India quite impressive but the German defence just too good.
19:43 IST: India's first attempt at Germany's goal comes in the 12th minute, but Nikkin Thimmaiah's shot is saved easily. It was a nice move down the centre stitched by Akashdeep Singh. It's 0-0 after 13 minutes.
19:40 IST: Ramandeep Singh IS grimacing in pain after being hit on the left hand. It's been a pacy encounter so far but no goals after 9 minutes.
19:36 IST: Vocal support for both teams inside the stadium. Which set of fans will go home happier today?
19:34 IST: It's 0-0 after five minutes. India trying a lot of flank play. Germany a bit physical with their tackles
19:32 IST: The first quarter starts. Germany are two-time Olympic champions and aiming for a hattrick of titles. India have won the Olympic gold eight times, the last time in 1980 in Moscow.
19:28 IST: The national anthems have been sung. Both teams are set to start proceedings in Rio.
19:25 IST: Meanwhile, Abhinav Bindra is through to the 10m air rifle final after finishing seventh in the qualifying round. You can catch the shooting highlights here.
19:15 IST: Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Indian hockey team's match Pool B match against Germany.
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Germany will be hot favourites to qualify for the quarterfinals from their group. The defending champions were in ruthless form in their opening match on Sunday, thrashing Canada 6-2 at the Olympic Centre.
What makes Germany an all-round side is their ability to score from penalty corners as well as field goals. Four of Germany's goals came from build-ups while two came from short-corners.
Captain Moritz Furste and Niklas Wellen scored twice each in the big win against Canada. Thus, the Indian defence and goalkeeper PR Sreejesh will have to keep a good watch on these two Germans players.
The 22-year-old attacker Christopher Ruhr and striker Florian Fuchs are other players to watch out for in the German squad which is currently ranked No. 3 in the world.
World No. 5 India are coming off a hard-fought 3-2 win against gritty Ireland. All three Indian goals came from penalty corners with veteran star Raghunath scoring the first one and Rupinder Pal Singh adding two more.
India have to really improve their penalty corner conversion rate of they have to push the Germans. They were at 50 per cent against the Irish who really made the Indian defence sweat in the final quarter of the contest.
The Germans had whipped India 5-2 in the London Games in 2012. In recent times, Germany beat India 4-0 in a six-nation tournament in Valencia recently. In the FIH Champions Trophy in London, India blew a 3-1 lead to finish 3-3.