London, June 15, 2025: The Indian women’s hockey team displayed immense grit and determination but narrowly lost 2-3 to Australia in an intense FIH Pro League encounter on Saturday. Despite trailing 0-3, India mounted a spirited second-half comeback, only to fall short in the final moments.
Match Summary
- Australia’s Dominance Early On:
- 16’ – Courtney Schonell opened the scoring after a defensive lapse.
- 26’ – Lexie Pickering netted the second from a goalmouth scramble.
- 35’ – Tatum Stewart converted a penalty stroke after a stick check led to a penalty corner and subsequent foot infringement.
Australia led 3-0 by the third quarter and looked set for a comprehensive win.
India’s Late Fightback:
- Deepika converted India’s first penalty corner in the final quarter.
- Neha scored the second from a rebound, narrowing the margin to 2-3.
- Despite multiple penalty corners in the dying minutes, India couldn’t find the equaliser.
Key Moments:
- 9’ – Australia earned their first penalty corner, but India defended well.
- 13’ – India were denied a goal by two brilliant saves from Aussie goalkeeper Aleisha Power.
- 47’ & 52’ – India’s penalty corners saw one conversion, one saved, and others squandered.
Quotes & Takeaways:
India showcased their potential with a resilient fourth-quarter effort. Despite the loss, the team’s fighting spirit, particularly in converting penalty corners, bodes well for upcoming fixtures in the Pro League.