CWG 2018 Hockey, India vs England, as it happened: Mandeep Singh scores a late winner in a thriller

Wrapping up

10 minutes. Five goals. One helluva match. This game will be remembered for ages to come. Such a great confidence boost too ahead of the semi-finals. India will be happy to avoid Australia in the last-four match. But they won’t be taking New Zealand too lightly as well. And, they’d also be concerned about Rupinder Pal Singh. He’s crucial to India’s success. But they keep their unbeaten streak alive. Up next: the Black Caps.

Indian coach Sjoerd Marijne will be pleased that his team finally managed a good penalty corner conversion rate in this match. Their PC conversion so far in the tournament:-

First match vs Pakistan: 1/4

Second match vs Wales: 3/13

Third match vs Malaysia: 2/9

Fourth match vs England: 2/3

“This is India’s best performance in the Games so far. The team would be happy to avoid Australia at some level but they will be happier with the performance they put in. “This is India’s best performance in the Games so far. The team would be happy to avoid Australia at some level but they will be happier with the performance they put in”

-Viren Rasquinha, former Indian hockey captain.

Twitter has gone crazy about this match:-

India will hope this doesn’t repeat though.

4:43 pm: India showed purpose and the ability to raise their game when it mattered the most. With Australia defeating New Zealand to top Pool A, it was clear that both the teams wanted to win this match and avoid the defending champions. And it looked like India were heading towards a showdown with the hosts as they were mostly lacklustre through the first half.

But Manpreet Singh’s side was a completely transformed unit after the break and though their were many anxious moments for the them in the last five minutes, they managed to carve out a win and will now face New Zealand with an eye on the final.

4:37 pm: Its all over. The final hooter has gone and India has defeated England 4-3 to top the pool. This means that they will avoid Australia in the semifinals. That is a huge win for India.

4:34 pm India 4-3 England: GOAL! This is some fightback from India. Mandeep Singh beats the England goalkeeper with a deflection with just under a minute left to play.

4:33 pm India 3-3 England: GOAL! India has been pounding the England goal and are awarded a penalty corner. And this time Varun Kumar makes no mistake in converting the penalty corner. He probably took the shot because Rupinder Pal Singh is out of action due to an injury

4:28 pm India 2-3 England: GOAL! And, Sam Ward converts a penalty corner for England. His teammates mob him. Surely this has sealed the game? Just three minutes left!

4:25 pm India 2-2 England: Penalty corner for England with just four minutes to go. Tension.

4:20 pm India 2-2 England: Ansell’s goal was off a penalty corner. India would rue granting it just two minutes after Rupinder’s equaliser. Can they sneak another one in here? Just six minutes left in this game.

4:20 pm India 2-2 England: GOAL! Liam Ansell levels it for England again. Two goals in two minutes. This is madness.

4:17 pm India 1-1 England: Penalty Corner for India! Can they take the lead? YES THEY CAN! No. Wait, England have referred this.

Okay, no issues with that. The goal is valid. India go 2-1 up! Rupinder Pal Singh scores with a deflection off an England defender.

4:15 pm India 1-1 England: Exquisite passing by England. They don’t look hurried anymore. Seems like they realise they still have enough time left in this game.

Stats after third quarter:

End of third quarter, India 1-1 England: It’s been an oscillating match so far. India are looking better after that superb equaliser by their skipper Manpreet Singh. Easily the best quarter for India. Can they sneak in a winner in the final quarter?

4:05 pm India 1-1 England: Amazing run by Mandeep with four minutes remaining in the third quarter. But loses steam and control of the ball.

3:58 pm India 1-1 England: The blur in the screengrab doesn’t hide the skipper’s delight after scoring. Bares the tricolour mouthguard, too.

3:55 pm, India 1-1 England: GOAL! Sensational stuff by India. Gurjant Singh passes the ball to Mandeep Singh, who swiftly sends it to captain Manpreet standing at the edge of England’s circle. Manpreet has all the time in the world to take aim and slot the ball in to equalise for India.

3:53 pm, India 0-1 England:

The lack of creativity from the midfield is clearly hurting India. There have been just two shots on goal in the entire first half and even those were not on target. They need to show more urgency in the second half as India needs to win this to avoid Australia in the semis. Australia have beaten New Zealand to top Pool A  

— -Abhijeet Kulkarni of The Field.

Viren Rasquinha says that the two misses in Q1 in hindsight could be costly, Lalit - being an experienced player - should really have hit the target, despite it being a bouncing ball. India will be disappointed to not make the most of a good start, Sreejesh was once again crucial at the back.  

Half-time! India 0-1 England: England have looked better after the end of the first quarter. They struck early in the second quarter and have held on to the lead. Their defenders have not let India get too close to the goal for a while now. Momentum’s with England.

3:33 pm India 0-1 England: Less than five minutes left for the first half to end. India hasn’t been able to penetrate England’s circle for a while now. The last time both teams met (at the Azlan Shah Cup) it ended in a 1-1 draw. What will happen this time?

3:28 pm India 0-1 England: England’s on the prowl since slotting in the first goal. The Indian defence looks slightly wobbly. The Indians are looking for an equaliser though.

3:23 pm India 0-1 England: GOAL! David Condon collects a superb pass in front of the goal mouth and unleashes a volley between the legs of Sreejesh. The Indian goalkeeper had no chance there.

End of first quarter: India 0-0 England: Sreejesh’s save off England’s penalty corner, Dilpreet’s missed opportunity the highlights of the first quarter. Both teams are looking good though.

3:16 pm, India 0-0 England: Last 60 seconds left in the first quarter. Both teams are battling it out in the midfield and thereabouts.

3:13 pm, India 0-0 England: Some great interceptions by both teams. After the first five minutes, neither of them have come close to scoring though. Manpreet’s in the dugout, listening to coach Sjoerd Marijne’s instructions.

3:07 pm Superb start from India here. Twice they looked like taking the lead. They are looking aggressive. There was also an excellent save by PR Sreejesh.

3:05 pm Starting XI, England: David Condon, Mark Gleghorne, Barry Middleton, Christopher Griffiths, Liam Sanford, Harry Martin, Brendan Creed, Ollie Willars, Harry Gibson, Ian Sloan (C), Sam Ward.

3:02 pm Starting XI, India: Sreejesh (GK), Rupinder, Manpreet (C), Mandeep, Lalit, Kothajit, Gurjant, Harmanpreet, Akashdeep, Amit, Chinglensana.

2:56 pm One area, in which India will look to improve today is their penalty corner conversion. So far, they haven’t done a great job with that.

First match vs Pakistan: 1/4

Second match vs Wales: 3/13

Third match vs Malaysia: 2/9

Total conversions: 6/26

2:45 pm Meanwhile, Australia have topped Pool A with a 2-1 win over New Zealand. Trent Mitton and Jacob Whetton scored in the second and the fourth quarters.

Wow, well spotted, Jaspreet!

Into the semis unbeaten, but India aren’t playing their best hockey. Read Ashish Magotra’s analysis of India’s performance so far.

2:30 pm Good afternoon, folks. Welcome to the live blog of India’s final group game – against England. The men in blue (should it be a cricket-exclusive sobriquet?) have already qualified for the semis after three unbeaten games against Malaysia, Wales, and Pakistan. But if they can beat England today, they can top group B ahead of the semis. And, England will be India’s first opponent, who are in the top-10 in the rankings. So, should be an intriguing contest.