Credit: X
The German women’s hockey team defeated India by 4-3 in the penalty shootout in the second semi-final of the FIH Olympic Qualifiers to secure their spot at the Paris 2024 later this summer. At the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Hockey Stadium in Ranchi, India and Germany were drawn level at 2-2 at the end of full-time.
The first quarter of the contest saw India get the lead in against the run of play after Neha Goyal secured the penalty corner by finding the foot of Pauline Heinz in the circle. The drag flick from Deepika sneaked between the legs of the German goalkeeper Julia Sonntag in the 15th minute to get the scoreline 1-0 in favour of the hosts.
Just like India in the first quarter, Germany turned the tables with a goal of their own against the run of play to make it 1-1. In the 27th minute, Charlotte Stapenhorst managed to get the better of Indian captain Savita Punia in goal after a 180-degree turn and a fiery shot at her.
Also Watch: MS Dhoni cheers for Indian women during FIH Olympic Qualifiers semifinal against Germany
Although the third quarter didn’t yield any goals, Germany were clearly the better of the two teams with clear-cut chances to take the lead against India. Charlotte Stapenhorst had a great opportunity to tap the ball into the net at the far post in the 45th minute of the contest, but she could only find the side netting instead.
In the final quarter, Deepika was in a one-on-one situation with Julia Sonntag to put India in the lead in the 49th minute, but the German goalkeeper superbly denied her. But, in the 57th minute, a mistrap in the circle from Sonika allowed Charlotte Stapenhorst a clear view of the goal, and she made it 2-1 in favour of Germany.
India didn’t lose hope in the dying minutes of the contest, and they managed to earn a penalty corner in the 59th minute. On the second attempt, the injector Ishika Chaudhary found herself at the right place at the right time, putting the ball in the back of the net to make it 2-2.
The penalty shootout saw Savita Punia deny the German attackers many times, but her Indian teammates couldn’t convert goal-scoring opportunities at critical times. At the very end, it was Germany who managed to defeat India by 4-3 in sudden death after seven attempts at goal from both teams during the penalty shootout.
