Johor [Malaysia]: The Indian Junior Men’s Hockey Team put in a great display on a thriller evening versus Australia, to win the 10th Sultan of Johor Mug after a tense penalty shootout.
The two teams were linked at 1-1 in regulation time, complying with which 9 penalty shots were required to choose the winner. India edged the shootout 5-4 as well as won their third Sultan of Johor Cup title. It was India with the first pushback of the Final, after which both sides aimed to play at a high pace, with Mohith Shashikumar carrying out a great save early on. Australia regulated procedures in the very early exchanges while Captain Uttam Singh and Boby Singh Dhami tried to push India onward. The initiatives paid off as India broke the deadlock with Sudeep Chirmako (14′). India entered into the initial break leading 1-0, much to the joy of followers at the stadium.
Wanting to build on the lead in the second quarter, India started on the front foot, with the majority of the competition being played in Australia’s half. As the quarter progressed, Australia’s hunt for the equaliser heightened, and despite the fact that India were absorbing the stress well, Jack Holland (29′) scored. India and Australia entered into the half-time break with the score reading 1-1.
Both sides returned out for the 2nd half with a careful approach, naturally not keen to permit the challenger any type of room. Midway with the quarter, India practically bordered in advance with Sudeep Chirmako, but neither side were able to outsmart the various other, as the quarter finished with the score at 1-1.
In the last quarter, which was played in the existence of the Sultan of Johor, both India and also Australia turned up the warm by a couple of notches, making it a very entertaining phase in the game. However, as the final 6 mins began, ball game still checked out 1-1. Both sides gave it their all but weren’t able to find the champion in regulation time, as the Last entered into a fine shootout.
In the shootout, it was Australia that had the first crack with Cooper Burns yet Mohith Shashikumar kept him out. India started with Vishnukant Singh, who smoothly raised it over the keeper and into the back of the web. Liam Hart brought racked up Australia’s very first goal in the shootout, after which Sudeep Chirmako fired wide, and also the tie-breaker was locked at 1-1 after the very first two shots.
Mohith Shashikumar foiled Jayden Atkinson’s effort prior to Captain Uttam Singh won a penalty stroke, which Sharda Nand Tiwari quickly put away, giving India a 2-1 lead. Up next for Australia was Joshua Brooks and he made it 2-2, yet Boby Singh Dhami could not place India ahead. Australia won a penalty stroke off the following attempt as Brodee Foster was inspected by the keeper and Joshua Brooks put away without much ado. Ankit Buddy approached the spot next for India, as well as he equalised, to make it 3-3, taking the video game right into untimely end.
In sudden death, Vishnukant Singh stepped up for India, however he missed, after which Liam Hart was refuted by the blog post. Captain Uttam Singh offered India a 4-3 lead with the following effort, as well as Cooper Burns made it 4-4.
Boby Singh Dhami reduced a disappointing figure on missing his attempt before Brodee Foster placed it large, and also the two groups remained linked at 4-4 in what was ending up being a dramatic finish. Sudeep Chirmako held his nerve and also made it 5-4 and Joshua Brooks’ miss out on after that implied India won their 3rd Sultan of Johor Cup title.
The top-scorer at the 10th Sultan of Johor Mug was India’s Sharda Nand Tiwari with 7 goals to his name, and also the Gamer of the Match in the Last versus Australia was Sudeep Chirmako.
