Lucknow: Favourites India came from a goal down to pip Australia 4-2 via shootout in a thrilling contest and enter the final of the men’s Junior Hockey World Cup after a hiatus of 15 years in front of a packed Major Dhyan Chand Astroturf Stadium here on Saturday.
India, who last won the Junior World Cup way back in 2001 in Hobart, are on a mission to reclaim the title and will face Belgium in the summit clash on Sunday.
The hosts scored two skillful field goals in the second half through Gurjant Singh (42nd minute) and Mandeep Singh (48th) after Australia took the lead through Tom Craig (14th).
But just when it was time to close out the game, the Indian defence conceded a soft goal and Lachlan Sharp (57th) drew level for Australia to take the match into shoot-out after both the teams were locked at 2-2 at the end of regulation time.
In the shoot-out, goalkeeper Vikas Dahiya rose to the occasion and made two fantastic saves to deny Australia’s Matthew Bird and Sharp.
The Indians, on the other hand, were clinical in the shoot-out with skipper Harjeet Singh, Harmanpreet Singh, Sumit and Manpreet (Jr) finding the back of the net past the Australian custodian.
Earlier today, India's final opponents Belgium stunned six-time champions and title holders Germany 4-3 in the shootout in the first semifinal to enter the tournament final for the first time.
Belgium rode on their goalkeeper Loic van Doren’s superb display in the shoot-out to register the upset win after the two teams failed to break the deadlock in regulation 70 minutes.
Van Doren made two brilliant saves in the shoot-out to deny Germany’s Philip Schimid and Tim Herzbruch.
In the second semifinal, India had the better share of possession in the opening half but it was Australia who utilised their chances.
It seemed Australia took a cue from the Spaniards as they hardly gave any space to the Indians, relying mainly on man to man marking.
Australia utilised the first chance they got in the match. The Burras earned their opening penalty corner in the 13th minute and Tom Craig scored from the third attempt with a reverse shot from close range after the initial flick and rebound were saved by the Indian defence.
Australia preferred to sit back and rely mainly on counters to surprise the Indians.
Australia secured two consecutive penalty corners in the 22nd minute but this time India goalkeeper Dahiya came to his side’s rescue to deny Blake Govers from the second attempt.
India pressed hard and minutes later earned two back to back penalty corners but Harmanpreet Singh failed to find the back of the net on both occasions.
In the 32nd minute, Varun Kumar found Vikramjit Singh inside the circle but the latter’s shot went straight to Australian goalkeeper Ashleigh Thomas’ pads.
The hosts had their best opportunity of the opening half in the next minute when Varun's long scoop from deep found Simranjeet Singh unmarked inside the circle after an Australian defender fumbled, but the striker pushed wide with only the rival custodian to beat.
Australia got the first chance after the change of ends when they earned their fourth penalty corner but the stopper fumbled to control the injection.
Trailing by a goal, India went all out attacking in search of the equaliser and their efforts bore fruit in the 42nd minute through a fierce reverse shot strike from Gurjant from a tight angle after he was set up by Simranjeet's brilliant play.
Pumped up by the equaliser, the Indians went for the kill and six minutes later took the lead through Mandeep, who scored his third goal of the tournament.
The credit for India’s second goal entirely should go to Mandeep who first intercepted an Australian defender’s miss-scoop and then played little one-two with Nilkanta Singh before unleashing a reverse hit underneath the Australia custodian into the board.
Stunned by India’s strike, Australia went into attacking mode and in the process secured two consecutive penalty corners, the second of which was brilliantly parried away by Vikas in front of the Indian goal.
But lapse in concentration for a moment from the Indian defence cost the hosts dearly as Australia equalised in the 57th minute with a soft goal.
Ten minutes from final hooter, Parvinder Singh came close but his sharp deflection from Dipasn Tirkey’s defence splitting pass was kept away by an agile Australian goalkeeper Thomas.
Six minutes from time, Australia secured another penalty corner but once again Vikas stood tall to keep away Blake Gover's grounded flick.
Thereafter both the teams tried hard for the winner but they failed to break each other defensive line to take the encounter into a shoot-out, where the Indian kept a calm head to emerge winners.
