Summary:
We witnessed the first winners of the Hockey5s event, with Uruguay, who won every match they played at the event, overcoming hosts Switzerland in the women’s final to become the Women’s Champions; while India who started the event as favourites in the men’s event, lived up to the billing prevailing over Poland to become the inaugural Champions in the Men’s event!
Overcast conditions in Lausanne proved to be a foreshadowing of the day to come as it rained goals throughout the day with teams getting more familiar with the format of the game and the tactics best suited to prevail in it. India, the eventual champions set the tone for the day with an offensive masterclass in a 7-3 win over Malaysia and from there the barrage of goals never ceased with a total of 78 goals scored in the 10 games.
If there were any doubts about the ability of the Hockey5 format to upset the pecking order, it was erased within 4 minutes of the Men’s finals, as Poland, who were the distinct underdogs, shocked India with 3 goals before India could find their feet in the game! But with 16 minutes left in the game, Indian nerves were settled by a thumping goal by Sanjay that got them going. Captain Gurinder got a second goal before the half time, that allowed India to trail by just 1 goal going into the half, and the game was anyone’s to win!
India had all the momentum going into the half and they started the second half in a similar vein. Boby Singh Dhami got India the leveller in the 1st minute and that was followed by some genius from the Player of the Tournament and Top Goal Scorer Raheel Mohammed scoring 2 goals to give India a 2-goal lead. Poland got a 4th goal that could have got them a way back into the game, but once again it was Raheel Mohammed who brilliantly set up another goal for Boby Singh Dhami that effectively ended the game with just 1 minute left.
Indian women registered a thrilling 4-3 win over the hosts Switzerland, and then drew 4-4 to South Africa on the second day of the FIH Hockey 5s 2022 at the Place de la Navigation Stadium in Lausanne, Switzerland on Sunday. Despite the win over the hosts, India missed out on a spot in the Final with the draw against South Africa, and finished in the 4th position in the table with 4 points. It was a matter of seconds between India finishing in the top two and missing out on a spot in the final.
— with FIH and HI inputs
Awards:
Best Goalkeeper (Women): Ursina Fazis (SUI)
Best Player (Women): Teresa Viana (URU)
Top Scorer (Women): Teresa Viana (URU)
Best Goalkeeper (Men): Lars Kleikemper (SUI)
Best Player (Men): Mohammed Raheel (IND)
Top Scorer (Men): Mohammed Raheel (IND)
FULL TIME: Well, that was all sorts of enthralling to watch (not so much to blog haha!) Indian come back from 0-3 down against Poland to win the final of the inaugural edition of Hockey 5s. Uruguay won the women’s edition a while back.
FULL TIME: In bright sunshine (after a crazy downpour not long ago), India win 6-4 to clinch the men’s edition of the inaugural FIH Hockey 5s. India 6-4 Poland:
Second half, India 6-4 Poland: A brilliant lob by Boby! Indian fans cheer. Less than a min to go.
Second half, India 5-4 Poland: GOAL POLAND! Well, we’ll be damned. Jacek scores from distance and Poland are back within one.
Second half, India 5-3 Poland: GOAL INDIA! RAHEEL! And that is probably the cushion India needed.
Second half, India 4-3 Poland: India trying to control things now... not like a slow pace is possible here but it is not as manic. Into the last 4 mins, Pawan with another save.
Second half, India 4-3 Poland: Pressure from Poland now. Into the last 5 mins.
Second half, India 4-3 Poland: Into the last 6 mins. Pawan with another big save.
Second half, India 4-3 Poland: GOAL INDIA! Raheel with a quickly taken free hit. The leading goalscorer adds one more. Little over 7 mins to go and India lead for the first time.
Second half, India 3-3 Poland: GOAL INDIA! Boby Singh with a high finish off a rebound.
Second half, India 2-3 Poland: We are underway... looks like a challenge (like a PC) given to Poland but the umpires confer and overturn the decision.
HALF TIME
| Team | Minute | Player | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poland | 1 | NOWAKOWSKI Mateusz | 0 - 1 |
| Poland | 5 | PAWLAK Robert | 0 - 2 |
| Poland | 5 | RUTKOWSKI Wojciech | 0 - 3 |
| India | 8 | SANJAY | 1 - 3 |
| India | 9 | Singh Gurinder | 2 - 3 |
First half, India 2-3 Poland: Pawan with another save! And hooter for half time. WHAT A HALF!
First half, India 2-3 Poland: Into the last minute of the half and Pawan with a stunning low save to his right from a long shot.
First half, India 2-3 Poland: GOAL INDIA! Gurinder! The captain closes the deficit. What a spell. One minute between two goals.
First half, India 1-3 Poland: GOAL INDIA! Oh Sanjay what a hit. A sensational reverse hit into the roof of the net. Came after a couple of hits from Mandeep too.
First half, India 0-3 Poland: Finally some attacking pressure from India. Less than 4 mins left.
First half, India 0-3 Poland: GOAL POLAND! Wow, Just as we were confirming Robert as the goalscorer for the second one, Poland go 3-0 up Wojciech this time. Pawan has been very busy, he had to do better there.
First half, India 0-2 Poland: GOAL POLAND! The immense early pressure from Poland is paying off.
First half, India 0-1 Poland: India nearly concede. Pawan somehow keeps this out. Manic start to this match, Poland have started on fire.
First half, India 0-1 Poland: GOAL! An early goal for the underdogs Poland, who had lost 2-6 against India earlier today.
Pushback: It will be non-stop action. Buckle in.
Earlier today, the women’s team had a heartbreak.
Hello and welcome to a quick live blog of the men’s final at FIH Hockey 5s.
Two halfs of 10 minutes each, this will be over quickly but we have had some thrillers. India topped the group stage for men’s even with three wins out of four matches.
Screenshots courtesy: Disney+Hotstar /FIH Hockey