<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2IZTAy_0wKEQw1j00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2IZTAy_0wKEQw1j00" width="1220" height="686" ><figcaption>(Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>The Indian men's hockey team delivered an attacking masterclass in the second half to overpower world champions Germany with a 5-3 scoreline at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi on Thursday.The win allowed India to level the two-match series 1-1 after losing the opener 2-0 on Wednesday. However, India lost the penalty shootout 3-1 which decided the winner of the two-match series. Aditya Lalage converted India’s only chance in the shootout.In regulation time, world No. 2 Germany struck first through Elian Mazkour (7’, 57’) in the first quarter. India, fifth in the hockey world rankings, found their rhythm in the second half, scoring five goals through Sukhjeet Singh (33’ 48’), Indian captain Harmanpreet Singh (42’, 43’) and Abhishek (45’) to flip the script. Henrik Mertgens (60’) scored for Germany in the final seconds to reduce the deficit.Germany, like in the first game, dominated the first half and played like a cohesive unit. They relied on the counter-attacks and scored through Elian Mazkour’s close-range effort in the seventh minute.India, who failed to make any of the seven penalty corners count on Wednesday, were wasteful in the first half as well, not scoring in the five penalty corners.However, the Indian hockey team turned the tables in the second half. Shilanand Lakra’s pass on the reverse hit found Sukhjeet Singh in front of an open goal, which made it 1-1.After a series of unsuccessful attempts, India finally made their ninth penalty corner of the match count with Harmanpreet Singh scoring with a powerful drag-flick in the 42nd minute. The Indian captain made it 3-1 in the next minute with a similar effort.Abhishek extended India’s lead to 4-1 after beating two German defenders in the D with clever stickwork in the dying seconds of the third quarter.With three goals down, Germany came out all guns blazing to reduce the deficit. However, Sukhjeet scored his second goal of the day after receiving a long pass inside the circle to make it 5-1.Elian Mazkour and Henrik Mertgens scored two late goals for Germany but could not prevent a defeat for the world champions against the Paris 2024 bronze medallists India.This was the fifth meeting between India and Germany this year. Germany defeated India 3-2 in the Paris 2024 Olympics semi-finals and 2-0 on Wednesday while India came out on top with 3-0 and 3-2 wins in the FIH Pro League.Thursday’s match also marked the 200th international cap for India’s first rusher and defender Amit Rohidas, who was part of the bronze medal-winning Indian teams at the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympics. Sumit achieved the milestone of playing 150 international matches for India.</div></body>

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IND vs GER hockey, 2024: Harmanpreet Singh, Sukhjeet Singh fire India to 5-3 win vs Germany in second match, but lose series

The Indian men's hockey team delivered an attacking masterclass in the second half to overpower world champions Germany with a 5-3 scoreline at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi on Thursday. The win allowed India to level the two-match series 1-1 after losing the opener 2-0 on...