Greetings and welcome, everyone. Watch this space as we take you through the build-up and live updates from the India vs Spain match in Hobart.
Greetings and welcome, everyone. Watch this space as we take you through the build-up and live updates from the India vs Spain match in Hobart.
The match is scheduled to start around 2pm IST. The India vs Spain, FIH Pro League 2025-26 hockey game will be live streamed on the JioHotstar app and website in India and telecast on the Star Sports Network TV channels in the country.
Here's how India line up for this crucial FIH Pro League encounter:
After the customary pre-match rituals, including the sacred national anthems, the match gets underway in Hobart. India attacking from left to right and Spain the other way in the first half.
Spain earn the first penalty corner of the contest and India keep it out, thanks to goalie Mohit HS. India are trying to maintain their defensive structure, which coach Craig Fulton keeps stressing on, in the initial exchanges.
Spain come really close to scoring, but India are alert enough to review it for dangerous play and the third umpire agrees with them. The scoreline stays at 0-0 after the first 15-minute period. India have not conceded, but have not come close to scoring even once.
India take the lead in the 19th minute! Maninder Singh it is with the finishing touch, after captain Hardik Singh makes a superb interception to create the chance and set it up for Maninder.
Maninder's second-quarter goal separates India and Spain at the end of the first half. The Men In Blue would be happy with their display so far, and need to continue defending solidly in the third and fourth quarters to retain their advantage and finally eke out a win.
The players are back from the mid-game breather and the third quarter gets underway. India attacking from right to left and Spain the other way in the second half.
India have a penalty corner with Spain down to 10 men at the moment, but they fail to make the most of the glorious opportunity, with the Spanish defence thwarting the drag flick.
The fourth and final quarter is on and India are fighting to hold on to their slender one-goal advantage. It will be a tense last 10 minutes without doubt for Indian hockey lovers.
Shudder. India's nightmare of late goals continues, as Bruno Font finds the equaliser with less than two minutes left on the clock. Can India find a winner now?
Suraj pulls off a spectacular last-gasp save to prevent another late Spain goal that would have subjected India to yet another defeat in the ongoing Pro League season. The match thus ends in a 1-1 draw at full time, and we will now have penalty shootouts to decide who gets the bonus point.
Shilanand Lakra is the first one from India to step up, and he makes no mistake, tricking the Spanish goalie to put the Men In Blue ahead. Jordi Bonastre then returns the favour to make it 1-1 in the shootout.
Abhishek Nain misses! Luis Calzado foxes him at the goalmouth to hand Spain the advantage in the penalty shootout.
Calzado holds firm to emerge as the hero for Spain. He denies India skipper Hardik Singh to clinch a 4-3 shootout win for his side. The Men In Blue's late woes continue as they go from a 1-0 lead till the 58th minute to a stalemate and then a penalty shootout loss. India get one point from the draw, Spain get two owing to the shootout win.
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