- By Namrata Vijay
- Fri, 02 Aug 2024 07:00 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Paris Olympics 2024: Skipper Harmanpreet Singh's goal and brilliant goalkeeping prowess helped India defeat Australia 3-2 in their last group stage match and reach the quarterfinals on Friday. The Men in Blue also ended their 52-year-old drought by beating Australia at the ongoing mega-event as India completely dominated throughout the match. Abhishek had scored the first goal in the 12th minute and then Harmanptreet scored another as Sreejesh successfully defended against the Australian attack.
The Indian captain then scored his third goal in the third quarter as Australia then tried to bounce back on the back of Blake Govers in the last and that's how the match ended with a thrilling finish. Both the teams played against each other for the eighth time this year, where Australia had won the last seven matches. The Harmanpreet Singh-led side aimed to bounce back from their loss against Belgium and had a flying start since the beginning.
How was the match unfolded?
The Men in Blue began the first quarter as an offensive as they began to penetrate the D quite comprehensively. Shamsher Singh forced Andrew Charter and saved the goal in the third minute as the Australian began to succumb to the threat of Indian attack. They then bounced back as Thomas Craig forced Sreejesh to save the goal. Jake Whetton was on the verge of scoring the goal.
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The Aussies then got a penalty corner, which the Indians dealt brilliantly and bounced back as that ended Australia's winning streak. Abhishek scored another goal and thus Charter was left with no option. India then doubled their lead in the penalty corner as Harmanpreet had sent Charter the wrong way on the back of his brilliant shot. Australia then tried to bounce back and forced Sreejesh to save a few goals after the hooter rang.
Australia dominated the third quarter as they tried to pressurise India on the back of Tim Brand's shot which went wide of the mark. Australia then got a penalty corner, which Sreejesh saved brilliantly. But they eventually broke the deadlock in the 25th minute as Australia scored a poor penalty corner and Thomas Craig converted a brilliant pass, which went past Sreejesh.