Hockey
FIH Pro League: Indian men lose 2-3 to Australia in first match of Antwerp leg - Highlights
Catch all the Highlights from the first match of the Antwerp leg as the Indian men's team took on Australia on Saturday.
Indian men's hockey team to take on Australia in FIH Pro League 2024-25. (Photo credit: FIH Pro League)
The Indian men's hockey team began its final leg of the 2024-25 FIH Pro League season in Antwerp, Belgium, against arch-rivals Australia on Saturday.
After facing four consecutive defeats last week in the Netherlands, the team was aiming to bounce back and register a few wins to get back on track for their World Cup Qualification quest.
India is currently ranked fifth on the FIH Pro League Standings after 13 matches. The team, however, is now officially out of contention for the Championship title of FIH Pro League 2024-25
As it happened:
Live Updates
- 14 Jun 2025 9:11 AM GMT
20' A brilliant save from Suraj Karkera holds India's narrow lead
Australian striker Joe Rintala took a direct shot at Suraj Karkara in a one-on-one situation, but it was easily saved by the Indian as he made himself and got down in a low posture.
- 14 Jun 2025 9:02 AM GMT
End of First Quarter: India 1-0 Australia
Australia looked the most attacking side in the first quarter, but it wasn't enough for them to break the deadlock as Indian defence showed a good man-marking and didn't allow any space to the Australian team.
Takinf advantage of their solid defense, Indian attackers find a fe good attacks and handed in their first goal of the match thanks to Abhishek powerful down the line snapshot on right flank.
- 14 Jun 2025 8:56 AM GMT
8' India takes the lead with a brilliant down-the-line shot from the edge of the circle
A brilliant defense-splitting pass from Manpreet found Abhishek, who, despite having three-four defenders in front of him, found an accurate shot in the right corner to give India an early advantage.
India 1-0 Australia
- 14 Jun 2025 8:49 AM GMT
5' Australia takes the charge in the first five minutes
Australia takes on India and uses short passes to build up some attacks from the right flank, but the Indian team defends well and also tries to push quick counterattacks.
India 0-0 Australia
- 14 Jun 2025 8:41 AM GMT
Both teams have entered the arena to start their Antwerp leg
The National Anthems are currently under place
- 14 Jun 2025 8:15 AM GMT
India is aiming to jump back into the top two with an outright win
India had a horrid last week, losing all four games of the Amsterdam leg against the Netherlands and Argentina.
Although India lost all the matches by a margin of a single goal, which gives some hope that the team can bounce back if they find the solution to their small hindrance in the final moments.
Currently, India is in sixth position on the FIH Pro League standings, with 15 points out of 12 matches, but an outright win today can push them back into the top 2.
- 14 Jun 2025 8:00 AM GMT
Indian men to take on Australia at 2:00 PM IST
The Indian men's hockey team will begin its final leg of the 2024-25 FIH Pro League season today in Antwerp, Belgium. They will play four matches in this leg, two each against Australia and host Belgium.
This will be the first major meeting between the two sides after the Paris Olympics where India endged past Australia by 3-2.
