England Take Point After End-To-End Battle Away To India

India 3
Abhishek (13’ FG), Shamsher Singh (27’ FG), Harmanpreet Singh (51’ PC)

England 3
Bandurak (7’, 28’ PC), Ward (60’ PS)

Shootout: India 3-2 England

England earned a point after a quite breathtaking FIH Hockey Pro League game away to India.

Having led early on through Nick Bandurak, England then went behind twice in normal time, only to equalise twice, firstly through Bandurak again before the second equaliser with effectively the last touch of the game thanks to a Sam Ward penalty stroke.

Then in the shootout, England led but were pegged back themselves, with a Ward penalty stroke clipping the post to give India a very hard-fought bonus point in sudden death.

Both teams can be pleased with how they played and it was a fantastic advert for the FIH Hockey Pro League – and the two teams do it all over again at 3pm on Sunday, live on BT Sport.

Starting XI: Payne (GK), Albery, Sanford, Park, D Scott, Smith, Sorsby (c), Griffiths, Goodfield, Ward, Ansell
Subs (used): S Taylor, Turner, Gall, Condon, Oates, Bandurak
Sub (unused): Mazarelo (GK)

Full report
It was England who went close early on, Liam Ansell showing his ability inside the D, but the ball would not quite sit down and his hard cross-shot just evaded Ward at the back post.

After a good start, it was no surprise that England took the lead, with Nick Bandurak showing his penalty corner talents by ripping home past the Indian back line.

India then settled into the match though, and found an equaliser on 13 minutes as Shamsher Singh danced into space down the left, pulling back for Abhishek to smash past Ollie Payne, who had absolutely no chance.

Ansell was again dangerous in the second quarter, brilliantly working space on the angle but seeing a thunderous drive tipped over the crossbar.

And then on 27 minutes India took the lead in somewhat fortunate fashion, Shamsher Singh creating room for a shot, which was weakly hit and came back off the post, with Liam Sanford unable to do anything other than tap the ball back over his own line. He claimed a push in the back, but the referral went against England and the goal stood.

Still before half time, England were able to dig deep and level within the blink of an eye. Once again it was Bandurak from a corner, and although his flick was a little closer to the ‘keeper, it was still too hot to handle and the teams went in level at the interval.

The third quarter was the only one without any goals, but that did not mean you could take your eye off the action, with Ansell seeing a corner pushed out, and Abhishek spurning a good opportunity to put his team in on goal.

In the final 15 minutes, India were upping the tempo and Payne made a big save after India won possession inside the D. Payne then pulled off a superb double save from a penalty corner, but from the retake Harmanpreet Singh slammed home right into the corner.

It was all happening in the last two minutes, with England removing their goalkeeper but India quickly winning a corner. They really should have sealed the win, and even when fluffing the initial corner routine, they spurned a simple chance when lifting too high into the goal.

And that gave England one more chance, David Condon doing brilliantly down the right, with Ward’s goalbound effort stopped by an Indian body behind the ‘keeper. After a long referral, Ward stepped up to slam home the penalty stroke, earn his team a point and take the game to a shootout for a bonus point.

Of course, there was more drama in the shootout. Ward had a stroke ruled out on referral, Chris Griffiths scored a brilliant nutmeg and James Albery also walloped home a beauty. Griffiths was inches away from winning it in sudden death but dinked just wide, and then for the final action, Ansell saw an effort saved, only for a stroke to be awarded as the Indian ‘keeper touched the ball after his helmet fell off. But this time Ward hit the post with his effort, concluding a quite breathless match in Bhubaneswar.

Upcoming home games
Tickets are on sale now for England’s first matches in front of home crowds since 2018, as the FIH Hockey Pro League returns in May and June of this year. Go to our website to secure your seats. For a limited period, the Hockey Family can save up to 20% on tickets with the code HF2022