Goalkeeper PR Sreejesh saved a penalty stroke in an exhilarating shoot out after making some breathtaking saves in regulation time because the Indian males's crew surprised Olympic champion Belgium 5-4 within the first match of the two-legged FIH Professional Hockey League on Saturday.
The Indian crew was down 1-3 with simply eight minutes left within the match however made it 3-3 to pressure a penalty shoot out. Sreejesh foiled an try from Alexander Hendrickx, who was taking his third PS, when the shoot out was locked 4-4 and Akashdeep Singh discovered the online to make it 5-4 for the Tokyo Video games bronze medallists.
Sreejesh, as common, was sensible underneath the bar, foiling various makes an attempt from the hosts all through the match however his two saves within the ultimate quarter proved to be essential.
The eventful first quarter led to a goalless stalemate with Sreehesh doing a implausible job underneath the bar, making two saves.
It was India who had the primary alternative to open the scoring however each the quick corners went abegging as the house goalie foiled these makes an attempt together with his rock stable defence.
Akashdeep too fluffed a shot close to the goalpost which on another day he would have flicked contained in the put up.
FIH Professional League: Indian ladies crew goes down combating towards Belgium in opening tie
Nevertheless, early within the second quarter, India discovered the online when Abhishek's shot rebounded off the custodian's leg and Shamsher Singh (18') tapped the excessive ball into the online after it got here off the put up.
Belgium discovered the equaliser by Cedric Charlier (21'), who deflected a go from Nicolas de Kerpel in lightening fast time. It was Arthur van Doren, who pushed it in direction of Kerpel from the left flank.
Each the groups received a penalty nook every however didn't utilise.
The host broke the impasse within the third quarter with Simon Gougnard (36') slotting a fierce hit dwelling after being fed by Florent van Aubel, who managed the excessive ball properly to push it in direction of his teammate.
Sreejesh saved India from extra ignominy when he made two heroic saves, parrying the ball away together with his stick, stretched totally on his proper.
De Kerpel, although, lastly breached the defence with a livid hit off a penalty nook to make it 3-1.
India got a lifeline within the match when Manpreet Singh received a penalty which Harmanpreet transformed and two minutes from the hooter, Jarmanpreet Singh discovered the equaliser by a brief nook.
India opted for a variation as Jugraj let it slip in direction of Jarmanpreet from behind his again after faking a stroke, and the latter blasted that into the online.
