FIH Olympic Qualification: Spirited India loses 3-4 to Germany in shoot-out, against Japan for Paris Olympics
Finalists USA and Germany have already secured their place at the Olympic Games in Paris. Whoever wins between India and Japan in the bronze medal play-off match will be placed third.
Ranchi: The Indian women's hockey team fought with tiger-like determination but lost their nerve in the most crucial phase of the penalty shootout as they lost 3-4 to Germany in the second semi-final of the FIH Olympic Qualifier on Thursday. The match was stretched to a penalty shootout after the teams were tied 2-2 in regular time. With this victory, Germany secured a place at the Olympic Games in Paris later this year.
However, India will also have a crumb of consolation as the hosts will get another chance to clinch their place at the Olympics if they beat Japan in the third-fourth place match on Friday. The best three teams from this tournament qualify for the Paris Games. World number 5 Germany will face the US in the final of this event on Friday.
Deepika (15th minute) and Ishika Chaudhary (59th) were the scorers for India in regular time, while both of Germany's goals were scored by Charlotte Stapenhorst (27th, 57th). As expected, the Germans attacked from the outset, applying continuous pressure on the Indian defenses on a foggy night where visibility was a problem.
The Germans were right with their strategy and made numerous circle notes. They earned a penalty corner in the opening minute but it was disallowed after India went for a review. But the visitors kept up the pressure and secured another penalty corner in the ninth minute, but Indian captain and goalkeeper Savita Punia was equal to the task.
The Indians also made some circle penetrations, but lacked finishing. But spurred on by MS Dhoni, the former captain of the Indian cricket team who came to watch the match, the home side fought back bravely to trouble the German defense with their speed.
Just 55 seconds after the end of the first quarter, India secured their first penalty corner and Deepika smashed the ball home with a powerful drag move to stun the Germans. The Indians became more confident after the goal and continuously attacked the rival defense which witnessed a few goals but goals eluded them.
The ruthless Germans were in no mood to sit back and attacked en masse after being 0-1 down. Lack of coordination in the Indian midfield and inability to clear loose balls cost the hosts dearly as Germany equalized three minutes after half-time when Stapenhorst scored from a fielding effort.
The Germans continued their relentless efforts after the change of objective. But the Indian defense stood tall to deny their opponents. Three minutes into the third quarter, Savita came into action and made a nice body save for Anne Schroder.
The Germans used their strong frame and power play to dominate the Indians. In the 35th minute, India had a great opportunity to take the lead from a counter-attack but Deepika's move from close range was easily cleared by German goalkeeper Julia Sonntag.
Seconds later, Germany took their second penalty corner, but the Indian backline was rock solid, withstanding several German attacks. Ultimately, it was too much for the Indian defense. Things melted three minutes into the fourth quarter when Stapenhorst scored her second goal of the day to stun the capacity crowd at the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Astro Turf Hockey Stadium.
However, the Indians did not give up and created back-to-back penalty corners in the 59th minute, the second of which was fired into the goal by Ishika from a rebound, forcing the match into a shoot-out. In the shoot-out, India had the advantage as Savita made two fine saves, but Navneet Kaur, Neha Goyal, Sangita Kumari and Sonika missed a one-on-one situation due to sudden death and handed Germany the match and the ticket for the Paris Games.