Hockey Pro League 2022: The Indian women’s hockey team lost 1-2 to Germany in a shootout after both the teams were locked at 1-1 at the end of the regulation time in the first match of the double-leg FIH Pro League on Saturday. Follow Hockey Pro League 2022 updates on Insidesport.IN
Early goals from Navneet Kaur (4th minute) and Carlotta Sippel (5th) set the tone for what was an exciting contest between world No. 9 India and world No. 5 Germany.
Took it stick-to-stick till the end but not the end we hoped. Germany took it away in the shootout. We see an opportunity to come back stronger and victorious tomorrow, 13 March 2022!#IndiaKaGame #FIHProLeague #hockeyatitsbest @IndiaSports @Media_SAI @CMO_Odisha @sports_odisha pic.twitter.com/tAO2fiP2yf
— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) March 12, 2022
Hockey Pro League 2022: Indian women lose 1-2 against Germany in shootout
Both teams wasted numerous scoring chances to finish tied after the end of the regulation 60 minutes, forcing the match into a shootout where the Germans did just enough to come out on top.
Navneet scored the only goal for India in the shoot-out even as Sharmila Devi, Neha Goyal, Laremsiami and Monika wasted their chances.
For Germany, Pauline Heinz and Sara Strauss found the net in the shoot-out, which was enough for the visitors to eke out a favourable result.
Playing their debut season in the Pro League, the Indian women made a fine start to their campaign, beating China 7-1 and 2-1 in their opening two games in Muscat.
Hockey Pro League 2022: Indian women lose 1-2 against Germany in shootout
The Indians then defeated world No. 6 Spain 2-1 at home before slumping to a 3-4 defeat in the return-leg last month.
The draw after regulation time ensured India to secure one point from the match, while the Germans secured two points, including a bonus.
Despite the loss, India are placed third in the standings with 10 points from five games while the Germans are in sixth place with just two points from three matches.
Both the sides will face each other in the second match of the tie at the Kalinga Stadium on Sunday.
Hockey Pro League 2022: Indian women lose 1-2 against Germany in shootout