Another match and another loss to Australia for the Indian men's hockey team.
Before the start of the five-match series in Australia, there was hope that Craig Fulton's India could make things very difficult for their opponents. Come up with a couple of wins, even if not the series. After four matches though, chances of at least one win seems difficult with Australia proving too good to beat in their home.
On Friday, India hoped for a better attacking performance, which they did but that was not enough. For the third match on the trot, India took the lead but couldn't stop their opponents from hitting back.
Jeremy Hayward did what he does the best, scored a brace from penalty corners and then Jack Welch added the third from his dragflick. In the end, it was a 3-1 victory.
How the match turned in the final quarter
It was clear in the previous game that India made defensive improvements that were needed to stop Australia from creating chances non-stop. The low block that India employ can result in maximum ball possession for Australia but reduces clear-cut chances from open play. Friday's match was no different, but Australia are not a team that gets frustrated and make mistakes.
While India's defence held up again, the attack showed a much-needed change in intensity and started having an impact in the game. The likes of Mandeep Singh, Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh, and especially Araijeet Singh Hundal, were much better with the ball - quick in making passes and executing their shots.
It was also important for India's attackers to create chances and win penalty corners because that's when Harmanpreet Singh can press in his advantage. That moment came in the 12th minute when Harmanpreet smashed a dragflick that Australia had no chance of stopping. This chance was the result of an impressive bit of stick play by Abhishek to find the foot of a defender.
With so much time left in the game, there was no doubt that Australia would respond, and they did after five minutes. A penalty corner opportunity was duly converted by another world class dragflicker by the name of Hayward.
While Australia upped their intensity after the goal, they couldn't force mistakes from India's defence. At the same time, India's counter-attacking game had bite to it, with Mandeep and Raj Kumar Pal going close with a couple of solid attempts.
Up until that point, the game was a close one, even though Australia had more possession.
Going into the final quarter, India knew that Australia would come hard. This was where Fulton had to perhaps try something different. A different gameplan, which could have been a surprise for their opponents.
This Indian team has the ability to play the chaos game and cause all sorts of problems. It may not work for the whole match, especially against the Aussies, but it could work in bits and pieces. Maybe India could've started the final quarter strongly with the ball, trying to be more physical and high pressing. Instead, India sat back, allowed Australia to win more penalty corners and Hayward turned it around with a superb dragflick.
It was only after Welch scored the third that India became active on the ball again and created a couple of chances, including penalty corners. It was too late by then.
What can India change for the final match?
Fulton wants India to play to a plan, and it seems like doesn't want to tinker it even after four losses. There is nothing wrong with it, it's his team and his vision. But sometimes, a slight change could add bit of a chaos and prove to be beneficial. However, it's easier said than done. It's difficult to make those mid-game drastic changes, and especially against an in-form team known for their highly attacking hockey.
��Glimpses from a hard fought battle on the hockey field, though we lost, our spirit remains undaunted.
On to the next challenge with even more determination! ����#HockeyIndia #IndiaKaGame #IndianMensTeam #EnRouteToParis #OlympicPrepInAus #AUSvIND
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.@CMO_Odisha... pic.twitter.com/ZfRsMCOUk5- Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) April 12, 2024
With one more match left to play on Saturday, Fulton might want to give more gametime to Suraj Karkera, who pulled off as many as four saves in the third quarter to keep India in the game. The last one was a brilliant one-handed save against a half-volley which was looked like it would definitely find the net.
Considering Australia's terrific form, it's likely that they will finish the series with a win on Saturday. If India somehow managed to spoil it, it will be a small positive on what has been a difficult tour in preparations for the Paris Olympics.
The last match of the series will be on Saturday at 2 PM IST