It was a tough ask for the Indian team as Australia played well, and did not give them enough space inside the
striking circle. However, the team showed determination as they kept looking for the equaliser in the last quarter.
Navneet struck a reverse shot across goal from inside the
striking circle to find an unmarked Neha, who deflected the ball into the back of the net.
In the first minute of the third quarter, she flicked the ball onto Michelle Vittese's foot inside the
striking circle. Rani slammed home from the resulting penalty corner to bring India level.
The strategy worked in the 25th minute when India's pressing in the attacking half helped them regain possession and convert it into a goal as Nikki Pradhan's ball into the
striking circle was deflected off an English foot, and onto Navjot Kaur, whose injection towards the goal was deflected into the back of the net by Neha Goyal to give India an important lead.
The main weakness of the Pak juniors was lack of coordination and planning and poor finish inside the
striking circle and they wasted ideal sitters in the first half by fumbling the ball besides failure to apply proper force on the ball and timely shooting in open goal scoring chances.
Pakistani keeper Adil Rao also stood under the bar and saved scoring sitters.The main weakness of the home team was a lack of coordination, planning and a poor finish inside the
striking circle they wasted ideal sitters in the first half by fumbling the ball besides failing to apply proper force on the ball and timely shooting in when they had open goal scoring chances.
both sides forwards missed these chances due to lack of coordination in the
striking circle demonstrating aimless shooting.
The Australians dominated for much of the first half and took the lead at the beginning of the second quarter when Hayward got the ball on the left edge of the
striking circle, cut inside and found the far top corner of the Vincent Vanasch's goal.
Indian players looked a little out of sorts in the first quarter and were found wanting in front of the opposition
striking circle. The group stage determines the line-up for the knock-out rounds that will be contested by all eight sides from December 11.
To a question, the coach said the team management is developing a culture among the players to end the old tendency of missing in action in the
striking circle. " What we have seen that this trend has ruined our chances in important matches in the hockey league and despite being in possession of ball and having ideal scoring sitters in the
striking circle we fumbled all such chances which diminished our victory chances".
The MIAA Field Hockey Committee last week voted, 12-0, to ban boys from the
striking circle (the 16-yard semi-circle around each goal); limit mixed-gender teams to two boys playing at a time; prohibit male goaltenders; and impose a one-boy limit when playing against all-girl teams during postseason 7-on-7 overtime periods.
The breakthrough came in the 52nd minute when India's Prabhjot Singh provided a measured pass to Shivendra Singh, who was checked in the
striking circle by Wouter Jolie.