Vice-captain Harmanpreet Singh continued his goal-scoring spree with a brace because the Indian males's hockey group defeated an inexperienced Germany 3-0 within the first match of the two-leg tie to increase its lead within the FIH Professional League standings right here on Thursday.
Harmanpreet transformed two penalty corners for India within the 18th and twenty seventh minutes, whereas Abhishek scored from one other set-piece within the forty fifth minute.
With half a dozen of Germany's 22-member squad making its senior debut right here, the huge hole between the 2 sides was evidently seen.
By advantage of this win, India has consolidated its place on the prime of the desk with 24 factors from 11 video games, whereas the Germans are positioned second with 17 factors from 9 matches.
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Each the groups will lock horns once more within the second match of the tie on the Kalinga Stadium on Friday. The Indians began on a vivid notice and secured a penalty nook early into the primary quarter however Jugraj Singh's effort from a penalty nook was stored out by the German defence and from the resultant rebound Nilkanata Sharma shot large. India loved quite a lot of possession within the first quarter however the forwardline hasn't been medical sufficient to bury the probabilities.
India continued in the identical vein within the second quarter and took the lead within the 18th minute by means of none apart from Harmanpreet from a penalty nook with a wonderfully executed dragflick.
India earned one other penalty nook quickly however this time Gierman goalkeeper Alexander Stadler denied Harmanpreet.
However Harmanpreet doubled India's lead three minutes from half-time, wrong-footing Stadler from one other set-piece.
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The Indians stored up the strain after the change of ends and created loads of scoring alternatives however the younger German defence stood agency however have been additionally responsible of conceding quite a lot of a lot corners.
And from such a possibility, Abhishek deflected in Harmanpreet's variation at hand India a snug 3-0 lead simply on the finish of the third quarter.
Minutes into the fourth and last quarter, Germany conceded one other penalty nook however this time Stadler stored out Harmanpreet's strive.
The Germans gave an excellent account of themselves within the last quarter-hour however they gave too many possibilities to the Indians within the type of penalty corners which price them dearly.
The Germans conceded eight penalty corners however didn't safe a single one in all the 60 minutes.
