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The seasoned forward sounded determined. The hosts were disappointed after losing the first match to the defending Pro League champions 3-4 despite pulling back two goals in the final quarter.

But India carried forward that late momentum into the second game at the Kalinga Stadium on Saturday to beat the world No. 2 outfit 2-2 (3-1) via the shootouts, earning their first victory over Australia since November 2016.

Ten minutes before pushback, India’s rested players Akashdeep Singh, Mandeep Singh and SV Sunil were in the stands, watching Australia warm-up. “It was a narrow loss yesterday. We could have pushed them to the shootouts. But we will beat them today,” Mandeep said as he keenly observed the Australians.

The game took off in high tempo and the visitors earned their first penalty corner 31 seconds into the match, which a flying Sreejesh saved with his right hand. Australia forced three more penalty corners in the first quarter but the Amit Rohidas-led



defence rushed into drag-flicker Jeremy Hayward each time to thwart the attempts.

India regularly counterattacked as the game constantly shifted from one half of the pitch to the other. Soon, Australia converted a penalty corner but an appeal for obstruction on Sreejesh was upheld by the video umpire, ruling out the goal. In the 17th minute, an unmarked Jarmanpreet Singh missed a big chance, his slap going just wide of the left post.

It looked like India might finally beat Australia, after a clean slate in the third quarter. But Australia pulled level within a minute into the fourth quarter when an unmarked Aran Zalewski (46th) in the circle slapped in the ball.

Australia were also awarded a stroke in the 33rd minute, but Tim Brand missed it, sending it into the right post.

India kept pressing in the final quarter but Vivek Prasad and Nilakanta Sharma missed multiple chances before Australia’s final PC—11 seconds from the hooter—was saved.