New Delhi: It was not a sweet homecoming for International hockey to the capital city as Germany defeated India 2-0 at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium on Wednesday.
Fielding a relatively younger team, the Olympic silver medalists defeated India 2-0 to win the first game of the bilateral Hockey Series.
Henrik Mertgens (4’) and Lukas Windfeder (30’) found the back of the net for Germany.
Indian skipper Harmanpreet Singh was off-color and missed a penalty stroke in the second quarter.
The match started with the Indian team attacking from the right flank in the opening minutes. However, the German debutant Henrik silenced the crowd in the fourth minute as he pounced on a loose ball in the Indian circle to put it past Krishan Pathak.
India settled down in the game after the goal and started moving the ball around earning a penalty corner. However, Varun Kumar failed to capitalize on the penalty corner.
The second quarter saw India put Germany on the back foot in search of an equalizer.
The pressure resulted in three penalty corners for India but Sanjay, Amit, and Harmanpreet failed to capitalise on the opportunities.
India almost equalized after Dilpreet lifted a rebound into the roof of the net but it was awarded as a penalty stroke to India and Indian skipper Harmanpreet Singh saw his shot saved by German goalkeeper Joshua Onyekwue Nnaji.
Germany initiated a counterattack in the last minute of the half and earned a penalty corner. Lukas Windfeder stepped up and found the gap between goalkeeper Suraj Karkera and postman Jarmanpreet Singh to double Germany’s lead heading into the second half.
India attempted to switch up the intensity in the third quarter but Germany matched them and ensured there was no clear goalscoring chance created for most of the quarter.
At the five-minute mark, India earned another penalty corner but Joshua Onyekwue Nnaji remained alert in goal to save Harmanpreet’s flick. Germany reacted quickly to rush up the pitch and earn a penalty corner of their own.
Goalkeeper Krishan Pathak deflected Benedikt Schwarzhaupt ‘s shot up and over and India initiated a counterattack of their own with Germany’s defence unsettled but Harmanpreet’s reverse shot only found the side netting.
India will play Germany tomorrow and hopes to draw the series 1-1.
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