The Indian men’s hockey team triumphed over Germany with a score of 5-3 in regulation time, but ultimately lost the bilateral test series to the reigning world champions after faltering in the shootout, where Germany emerged victorious 3-1, clinching the series. During the second match’s regulation time, Sukhjeet Singh (34′, 48′) and Harmanpreet Singh (42′, 43′) each netted two goals, while Abhishek (45′) added another for India. Germany’s goals came from Elian Mazkour (7′, 57′) and Henrik Mertgens (60′).
India started strong with a penalty corner in the fourth minute, yet it was Germany that first found the back of the net with a quick counter-attack in the 7th minute. Although Abhishek made a circle entry from the left side, his shot was unsuccessful, allowing the Germans to capitalize.
The reigning world champions entered this match following a 2-0 victory in the initial match and had another chance to score in the 12th minute with a penalty corner, but they could not convert it. India also had a chance to score through a penalty corner in the 14th minute, but Danneberg made an excellent save.
In the second quarter, Vishnu Kant and Shamsher worked together to challenge the German defense but could not find an equalizer. In the subsequent minutes, both teams earned penalty corners, but neither team was able to score. While India sought a goal in this quarter, the German defense remained strong, particularly in defending against penalty corners.
At half-time, with the score at 1-0, India needed to adjust their offensive strategy and devise a new approach to find the net. They accomplished this in the third quarter when Shilanand Lakra delivered a backhand pass to Sukhjeet inside the circle, which was expertly redirected to level the score. This initial goal by India provided the momentum they sought, leading to two additional goals in the same quarter. Harmanpreet Singh scored twice from penalty corners in the 42nd and 43rd minutes, allowing India to pull ahead with a commanding 3-1 advantage.
India capped off the third quarter with yet another goal, this time from Abhishek, who netted a well-executed field goal. In the 48th minute, India further increased their lead to 5-1 after a counter-attack, where Sukhjeet executed a solo run, easily pushing the ball past Danneberg since no defenders were in sight. The excitement persisted as Mazkour scored his second goal. Germany managed to find the net again in the 60th minute, thanks to Henrik Mertgens, which brought the match into a shootout.
We analyzed our opponents carefully after yesterday’s game and tried to minimize errors to bounce back today. I am proud of the way the team played today. We found success in field goals and PC attack but unfortunately couldn’t win the Series, said the Indian skipper Harmanpreet Singh, who was also awarded the Player of the Match award.
Lalage, who scored during the shootout, performed exceptionally well throughout the match on his debut for India. Although he didn’t record a goal or assist during the game, his speed, stickwork, and knack for finding dangerous positions were notable. A remarkable save by Danneberg in the second half was all that stood between him and a debut goal, but this shouldn’t overshadow what was a strong first appearance.
Vishnukant Singh and Shilanand Lakra also stood out, with Lakra even providing an assist for Sukhjeet’s initial goal. Vishnukant’s long strides and ability to advance the ball from midfield played a key role in India’s enhanced performance in the second half. Following Rajinder’s debut on Wednesday, the fact that these young talents rose to the occasion at the senior level bodes well for Fulton.
