India keep series alive with last gasp winner

The Kookaburras’ 5-match series against India will go into the weekend’s final two matches with everything to play for as a thrilling last quarter saw the visitors secure a 4-3 win at MATE Stadium in Adelaide.

After an arm wrestle had the sides locked 2-2 late in the contest, the last three minutes produced three goals with Akashdeep Singh scoring the winner for India in the final 60 seconds.

Jack Welch, co-captain Aran Zalewski and Nathan Ephraums each hit the back of the net, but a determined India had the answers when it counted.

Similarly to Match 2, India captain Harmanpreet Singh opened the scoring with his fourth goal of the series when he converted from a penalty corner in the 12th minute.

The Kookaburras were dealt a blow when the series’ leading scorer Blake Govers succumbed to a calf injury.

With Govers’ night over, the Kookaburras were close to going two goals down when Sukhjeet Singh’s shot had goalkeeper Johan Durst beaten only for the ball to hit the post.

After conceding 12 goals across the first two matches, India’s defence was on high alert as they repelled the Kookaburras’ threatening forays forward, highlighted when they made three saves and blocks in succession that was triggered by Jeremy Hayward’s initial drag flick.

Welch eventually broke through in the 25th minute for his third goal in two matches to make it 1-1 at half time.

Two minutes into the second half the Kookaburras were in front when Zalewski glanced home with just his left hand on the stick from a perfectly directed drag flick from Hayward.

The Kookaburras enjoyed a dominant period with Ephraums coming close to adding another in the 43rd minute on the reverse from an acute angle, but his shot flew just wide.

India then made it two from two on penalty corners as Abhishek glanced home from Harmanpreet Singh’s drag flick that gave Durst no chance.

Noting India’s new found resolve, the Kookaburras upped the ante as Hayward unloaded a fierce drag flick but Sreejesh made a fine save.

Shamsher Singh then put India in front from another penalty corner in the 57th minute as tensions and emotions began to rise with time running out.

That was the start of the late drama as Ephraums used his innate goal sense to pounce and make it 3-3 in the 59th minute.

However, India had other ideas as Akashdeep caught the Kookaburras off guard from the restart as he found space unmarked at the far post after a pass that split the Australian defence to round off the seven goal thriller.

All eyes now turn to Match 4 on Saturday with the Kookaburras leading the best of five series 2-1.

“It was a difficult international tonight…a really hard game and they (India) definitely turned up tonight,” said Kookaburras Head Coach Colin Batch.

“We thought towards the end when we overpowered them that we did enough to at least draw the game but we were very loose after coming up with the equaliser so there were some good lessons for us.”

Match 4 of the series is at 4pm local time (4.30pm AEDT) on Saturday 3 December before the final match on Sunday.

Match Details
Kookaburras 3 (Welch 25’, Zalewski 32’, Ephraums 59’)
India 4 (Harmanpreet Singh 12’, Abhishek 47’, Shamsher Singh 57’, Akashdeep Singh 60’)
@ MATE Stadium, Adelaide

Kookaburras: 1.Lachlan Sharp, 4.Jake Harvie, 5.Tom Wickham, 6.Matthew Dawson, 7.Nathan Ephraums, 8.Johan Durst (gk), 10.Josh Beltz, 12.Jake Whetton, 13.Blake Govers, 14.Dylan Martin, 16.Tim Howard, 17.Aran Zalewski (c), 20.Ky Willott, 21.Jack Welch, 23.Daniel Beale, 26.James Collins, 32.Jeremy Hayward
Unused substitute: 30.Andrew Charter (gk)

Team Line-ups

Kookaburras v India Series
MATE Stadium, Adelaide
Match 1 - Saturday 26 November (4.00pm local time, 4.30pm AEDT)
Match 2 - Sunday 27 November (4.00pm local time, 4.30pm AEDT)
Match 3 - Wednesday 30 November (6.30pm local time, 7.00pm AEDT)
Match 4 - Saturday 3 December (4.00pm local time, 4.30pm AEDT)
Match 5 - Sunday 4 December (4.00pm local time, 4.30pm AEDT)

Ticketing details: Available now through Ticketek
Broadcast: LIVE on FOX Sports, Kayo and livestreamed on LIVEHockey. The matches will also be streamed globally on Watch.Hockey (geo blocked in Australia and India). In India the matches will be shown on Star Sports First, Star Sports Select 1.