Sports Bulletin Report
BHUBANESWAR:-India women put the disappointment of the previous day's shoot-out behind them to put in a convincing performance in the shoot-out to take the bonus point in this hard-fought match against Germany. While that was a huge improvement in performance, Head Coach Janneke Schopman will be concerned that the team couldn't make more of their opportunities in the 60 minutes of matchplay.
India 1-1 Germany (women) (India win shoot-out 3-0)
In the event, it was Germany who took the lead. Felicia Wiedermann was on the end of a penalty corner routine, which began with a running injection and ended with the ball flying past Devi Kharibam in the India goal. This was just ahead of half-time and both teams trooped off the pitch after an exhausting opening two quarters.
Head Coach Akim Bouchouchi said, although he was happy to be in the lead, he was not happy with much of the build-up play by his young team. 'We are making too many faults in our build-up and allowing India to take possession too easily.'
India had squandered their referrral in the first five minutes of the game and, when Germany won a penalty stroke there was the sense that this decision would come back to haunt them. However, Jette Fleschütz's hard shot hit the post and the score remained 1-0.
India finally broke through in the third quarter when Nisha was on hand to bundle the ball over the German goal-line after some indecision by the German defence.
Both teams had further opportunities to wrap the result up. India pushed and pushed for the winning goal but found a resilient German defence that maintained discipline despite an onslaught by the India attack. This included marshalling Devi Sharmila away from the danger area and preventing the ever-threatening Navneet Kaur from creating chances.
Germany were awarded a penalty corner in the dying seconds of the game but were unable to find a way past Savita.
The shoot out was a reverse image of the day before. This time it was India who looked the more confident and they quickly took an unassailable 3-0 lead through the excellence of Savita and the calmness of the scorers: Tete Salima, Kumari Sangita and Sonika.
Speaking after the game, Player of the Match, Navneet Kaur (IND), said: ‘I am very happy, we did very well and worked hard over both matches.'
Germany's captain Lisa Nolte said: 'The feeling in this stadium is awesome but we were unlucky to lose the game today. I am proud of my team. We did a great job but we were unlucky not to win today.'
The result means India move to second position in the league table behind Argentina and ahead of Netherlands. Germany remain in sixth position just one point behind Spain.
To see the current women’s FIH Pro League Standings, click here.
Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar (IND)
Result: Women's Match 18
India 1, Germany 1 (India win the shoot-out bonus point 3-0)
Player of the Match, Navneet Kaur (IND)
Umpires:Celine Martin-Schmets (BEL), Raghu Prasad (IND), Javid Shaikh (IND, Video Umpire)
