The must-win crossover game between India and New Zealand at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Sunday ended in a shootout loss for the hosts, which prevented them from advancing to the quarterfinals of the Hockey World Cup 2023.
At full time, the teams were locked in a 3-3 draw, sending the game into the penalty shootout. In sudden death, with India and New Zealand still knotted at 3-3 in the shootout, New Zealand advanced to the quarterfinals with a 5-4 victory over India.
India and New Zealand were level at 0-0 after the first period because neither team could muster much of a threat. In the last seconds, India’s Harmanpreet Singh nearly broke the tie, but he miscalculated, making it simpler for Simon Child to stop him.
The New Zealand skipper received a two-minute suspension for tackling India’s Abhishek in the first quarter and received a green card. In the second period, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay successfully cleared an easy goal into the left corner to give India its first lead.India and New Zealand were level at 0-0 after the first period because neither team could muster much of a threat. In the last seconds, India’s Harmanpreet Singh nearly broke the tie, but he miscalculated, making it simpler for Simon Child to stop him.
The New Zealand skipper received a two-minute suspension for tackling India’s Abhishek in the first quarter and received a green card. In the second period, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay successfully cleared an easy goal into the left corner to give India its first lead.
In the 18th minute, Lalit entered the field after Akashdeep gained control of the ball and transferred it to Shamsher. Lalit then made no mistakes with the pass. India was awarded a penalty corner, but Lalit missed it this time. Sukhjeet Singh increased India’s advantage to 2-0 after seven minutes.
As Sukhjeet deflected the ball off the rebound after Harmanpreet Singh attempted to score, he gained a penalty corner. Sam Lane of New Zealand quickly restored parity in the 29th minute. Lane and Child worked together before Lane scored close to the goal line to make the score 2-1 as India and New Zealand entered the break.
In the third period, India was awarded another penalty corner, and Varun Kumar scored a goal in the 41st second. As India lead New Zealand 3-1, Varun lobbed the ball past Dixon’s legs in the New Zealand goal. The joy of the hosts was short-lived as New Zealand was able to stay in the game thanks to Kane Russell’s successful penalty corner conversion.
In the fourth quarter, New Zealand gained a penalty corner, and in the 50th second, Sean Findlay scored from the rebound to tie the game against India at 3-3. India soon secured a penalty corner, but the hosts were unable to convert it. India’s Pathak narrowly prevented Simon Child from sending New Zealand home and forced the game into a shootout.
