Indian Hockey Team Denied Victory by Spain's Last-Minute Equalizer in FIH Pro League
The Indian men's hockey team experienced yet another heartbreaking result in the FIH Pro League, surrendering a potential victory to Spain in the dying moments of their match at the Tasmania Hockey Centre in Hobart on Tuesday. With less than two minutes remaining in regulation time, Spanish forward Bruno Font unleashed a spectacular equalizer in the 59th minute, forcing the contest into a penalty shootout where Spain ultimately prevailed 4-3 to claim the crucial bonus point.
Promising Start and Defensive Resilience
India had taken an early lead in the 19th minute through a well-executed goal by Maninder Singh. The sequence began with Hardik Singh intercepting the ball at the 23-meter line before delivering a precise pass to Maninder at the top of the D. Maninder demonstrated excellent control before firing a reverse hit into the bottom right corner of the Spanish net.
This marked a positive start for Craig Fulton's squad, who had earned their first point of the season against Australia in their previous outing. The team showed significant defensive organization throughout the match, particularly through the efforts of Jarmanpreet Singh in his 150th international appearance. India maintained a solid defensive structure, effectively neutralizing Spain's counterattacks and preventing the Europeans from converting any of their eight penalty corner opportunities.
Missed Opportunities and Tactical Concerns
Despite the promising start and defensive solidity, India struggled to capitalize on their offensive chances. The team earned four penalty corners but failed to convert any of them, with Amit Rohidas missing two attempts while Jugraj Singh and Rajinder Singh each failed to convert one opportunity. This continued a concerning trend of inefficiency in set-piece situations that has plagued the team throughout the season.
Coach Craig Fulton identified another significant issue during his halftime address, noting that his players were surrendering possession too easily in midfield. "We are giving away the ball too much," Fulton observed. "We are trying the right things, but we need to be a little patient when we are building up. If we keep giving them gifts, then it's going to come back and hurt us."
Goalkeeping Performances and Shootout Struggles
Both Indian goalkeepers delivered commendable performances during regulation time. Suraj Karkera, despite conceding Font's late equalizer, made a crucial double save in the final seconds to ensure the match proceeded to a shootout. Mohith HS also performed adequately during open play but struggled in the penalty shootout, failing to make a single save as Spain converted all four of their attempts.
In contrast, Spanish goalkeeper Luis Calzado proved decisive in the shootout, denying both Abhishek and Hardik Singh to secure victory for his team. This highlighted a recurring concern for India in pressure situations, particularly in shootout scenarios where execution has consistently fallen short.
Controversial Decisions and Looking Ahead
The match featured several controversial decisions that impacted both teams. India had a potential goal disallowed late in the third quarter, while Spain also saw one of their goals ruled out earlier in the contest. These decisions added to the frustration for the Indian camp, who felt they deserved more from the encounter.
Despite the disappointing result, Coach Fulton expressed satisfaction with his team's overall performance, which had been his primary focus heading into the match. Captain Hardik Singh, who frequently dropped deeper in attack to influence play, will now look to guide his team to their first victory of the season when they face Australia on Wednesday. With back-to-back draws following five consecutive losses, the Indian team continues to search for the winning formula that has eluded them throughout the current FIH Pro League campaign.
