LONDON --- Australia won the Champions Trophy after beating India 3-1 in a shootout on Friday. However, the final ended in controversial circumstances with India protesting against one of the shots; the matter was taken off the field and eventually decided 90 minutes after the match concluded.
Only Harmanpreet Singh was able to score in the shootout, while SK Uthappa, SV Sunil and Surender Kumar all shot wide. Aran Zalewski, Daniel Beale and Simon Orchard scored for Australia, while Trent Mitton's try was blocked by goalkeeper PR Sreejesh.
There was plenty of drama in the shootout as Beale's shot was re-taken after he failed to score and sought a video review. The video umpire then asked the shot to the taken again. At the end of the match, India protested against the second successful attempt awarded to Beale, delaying the final announcement on the result of the match.
It was India's first podium finish at the Champions Trophy since 1982, where they had won bronze in Amsterdam.
Fancied Australia, looking for their 14th Champions Trophy title, faced a stiff fight from the Indians, who were playing their first final, but raised the level to come within striking distance of the title.
India's first chance came in the ninth minute when Mandeep Singh broke in from the right flank and his shot rebounded off Australian goalkeeper Andrew Charter. The ball went to Uthappa, who had the opportunity to have a measured crack at the goal, but sent a rushed reverse hit wide to the right.
In the next minute, Australia laid seize on the Indian citadel through four successive penalty corners, but goalkeeper Sreejesh brought off two fine saves. In the end, it was defender Surender Kumar who rushed out to block the penalty corner flick and the ball went out of the circle.
India forced two consecutive penalty corners in the 13th minute, but goalkeeper Charter averted danger by palming away VR Raghunath's rising flick.
Three minutes in to the second quarter, Australia got a penalty stroke when Glenn Turner's shot in a set-piece penalty corner try hit defender Pradeep Mor's foot. The umpire immediately blew for a penalty stroke, although the ball slowly trickled over the goal line.
Blake Govers failed to convert the penalty stroke as he flicked wide to the left and India survived an anxious moment.
Indian shooter Harmanpreet could not make India's third penalty corner count in the 29th minute and the title encounter remained goalless at half-time.
India had a brief period of territorial dominance in the third quarter, mounting three raids into the circle and also forcing two penalty corners in as many minutes. The penalty corners did not pose a threat as the ball was not stopped on the first occasion and the feeble shot was easily cleared on the next one.
India failed to capitalise when they had an advantage in numbers as Australia were down to nine men in the third quarter with Matthew Swann and Trent Mitton were shown green cards in quick succession.
Then, Australian defender Matt Dawson was sent off with a yellow card in the 50th minute for a deliberate foul on Indian winger Sunil and they had to play the last 10 minutes with 10 men.
Again, India failed to capitalise from an extra player on the pitch, and the advantage was negated with three minutes remaining as Indian player Thimmaiah also had a yellow card flashed at him.