Hockey World Cup, Pool D, India vs Wales as it happened: Harmanpreet and Co win gripping match 4-2

That’s it from us tonight. Join us again on Sunday, January 22, when India plays New Zealand for a spot in the quarterfinal of the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup.

India did get the win at the end of an exciting match, but not quite the result they wanted. India needed to win by at least eight goals to top Pool D and earn a direct spot in the quarterfinal. Winning 4-2 does take the hosts through to the next stage, but they will now have to play New Zealand for a spot in the last 8.

Akashdeep Singh is adjudged the player of the match. Deservedly so. He made the difference for India in attack, combining well with his teammates and displaying his eye for goal emphatically.

He said: “We did not play well in the first two quarters, they way we had decided. We played well in the third and fourth quarters but we need to do well in the next match.”

There goes the final hooter. India wins 4-2

Pool D, India 4-2 Wales in Q4: GOAL FOR INDIA! Harmanpreet scores. Goes right down the middle with no goalkeeper on the line for Wales. Probably one of the easiest ones he’ll score in his career, but this one will do a world of difference for his morale.

Pool D, India 3-2 Wales in Q4: 54 seconds left, Wales has no goalkeeper, and India wins a PC.

Dilip Unnikrishnan from the stadium: Two minutes left and some fans have begun leaving the stadium. Not a good look on the team

Pool D, India 3-2 Wales in Q4: Abhishek gets the ball at the back of the net after a solid reverse shot, but the umpire calls for an officials’ referral. Turns out the ball was going wide, but only got into the goal after it struck a Welsh player above the knee. Result: dangerous play, free-hit to Wales.

Pool D, India 3-2 Wales in Q4: Another good chance for India which ends with Mandeep taking a snapshot-volley, but great save by Reynolds-Cottrill.

Pool D, India 3-2 Wales in Q4: GOAL FOR INDIA! Akashdeep again! Combines well with Sukhjeet Singh on the right flank, gets into the shooting circle and powers a reverse hit past the Welsh goalkeeper.

And we’re off for the final 15

That’s it for the third quarter

Dilip Unnikrishnan from the stadium: India have now gone from looking to score eight goals to fighting to beat Wales. This is very poor from India. They have 15 minutes to come away with a win and take some momentum into the crossover match on Sunday.

Pool D, India 2-2 Wales in Q3: Just a few seconds after scoring, Draper pickes up a knock on the face and has to be taken off the field for treatment.

Pool D, India 2-2 Wales in Q3: GOAL FOR WALES! Furlong goes for the same routine, but this time Sreejesh gets a foot. The ball comes back out to Furlong, who passes it to Jacob Draper, who slots it home to equalise with 40 seconds left in this quarter.

Pool D, India 2-1 Wales in Q3: PC for Wales

Pool D, India 2-1 Wales in Q3: GOAL FOR WALES! Gareth Furlong goes nice and low to PR Sreejesh’s right, but the ball stays away from the veteran goalkeeper’s outstretched leg and crashes into the goal.

Pool D, India 2-0 Wales in Q3: PC for Wales now

Dilip Unnikrishnan from the stadium: There’s now a sense of urgency among the Indian players. Fear it might be too late for them.

Pool D, India 2-0 Wales in Q3: Another PC, another missed chance. Harmanpreet goes for it this time but the shot doesn’t put enough pressure on the Welsh goalie.

Pool D, India 2-0 Wales in Q3: Harmanpreet Singh is there, but the ball goes to Amit Rohidas, whose shot is blocked by the first rusher. Another PC goes begging.

Pool D, India 2-0 Wales in Q3: Decision stands, PC for India.

Pool D, India 2-0 Wales in Q3: PC for India after Amit Rohidas is brought down. Wales goes for a review.

Pool D, India 2-0 Wales in Q3: Varun Kumar takes it this time, straight at Reynolds-Cottrill in goal.

Pool D, India 2-0 Wales in Q3: PC for India

Dilip Unnikrishnan from the stadium: Lovely flowing move between Akashdeep and Mandeep and the former finishes it off with a rocket.

Pool D, India 2-0 Wales in Q3: Harmanpreet goes for the shot but its straight at the goalkeeper.

Pool D, India 2-0 Wales in Q3: Lalit Upadhyay finds a Welsh foot. PC for India.

Pool D, India 2-0 Wales in Q3: GOAL FOR INDIA! Akashdeep Singh gets on the scoresheet. He picks up the ball in midfield and charges down the left channel. Finds a pass to Mandeep Singh, who collects, takes a touch to the middle and plays through to Akashdeep who continued the run. First time shot and he slams it into the far corner.

Pool D, India 1-0 Wales in Q3: Gareth Furlong goes for the shot but it’s just wide.

Pool D, India 1-0 Wales in Q3: 90 seconds into the second half and Wales gets a PC

And we’re off in the second half

India needed goals, and plenty of them, in this match. But that’s the one thing they haven’t managed to get so far. Just the solitary strike from Shamsher Singh in the second quarter that seperates the two teams. The hosts have dominated possession, but Wales has been disciplined and calm in defence.

Harmanpreet Singh and Co needed to win this match by at least eight goals to earn a direct spot to the quarterfinal. It’s still possible, but India now has just 30 minutes to score seven more times.

There goes the hooter for the first half.

Pool D, India 1-0 Wales in Q2: Just under two minutes to go in the half, clever play from Mandeep Singh on the left flank. Goes for a shot at the near post after a good run, but can’t get pats the goalkeeper.

Pool D, India 1-0 Wales in Q2: Great determination by James Carson. Went past a few Indian defenders, shadowed throughout the long run, but ran out of steam when it came time to go for the shot, placing the ball wide of goal. Krishan Pathak still untested in the India goal.

Dilip Unnikrishnan from the stadium: That will count as a penalty corner goal. IF, and that’s a big if, India win 7-0, they will only top the group if the six goals are field goals. Then again, the 7-0 scoreline looks very unlikely

Pool D, India 1-0 Wales in Q2: GOAL FOR INDIA! Harmanpreet Singh’s drag-flick is blocked by the first runner. The ball falls to Shamsher Singh outside the shooting circle. He marches into range and unleashes a fierce low shot that sneaks into the near post.

Pool D, India 0-0 Wales in Q2: Second penalty corner for India. Good pass from Amit Rohidas to Mandeep Singh who draws the foul.

Pool D, India 0-0 Wales in Q2: Harmanpreet Singh gets the ball but fluffs the drag-flick. Not often you see that from the India captain.

Pool D, India 0-0 Wales in Q2: 45 seconds into the second quarter and India wins a penalty corner.

Pool D, India 0-0 Wales End of Q1: India has been pushing, with a lot of ball possession, but the Welsh defence has remained calm and not conceded a penalty corner.

Pool D, India 0-0 Wales in Q1: Another good chance for India. Mandeep Singh gets a shot away, the goalkeeper makes the save, there’s a melee for the ball, Akashdeep Singh is there, but are a number of Welsh defenders there to scramble the ball away.

Dilip Unnikrishnan: India are pressing well but they are taking too much time when they have the ball. They need to be quicker and decisive with their passes.

Pool D, India 0-0 Wales in Q1: With just over six minutes left in the first quarter, Nilakanta Sharma gets India’s first shot at goal - a reverse hit after a quick dribble into the box. Not much trouble for Toby Reynolds-Cottrill in the Welsh goal, who calmly kicks the ball away.

Dilip Unnikrishnan: There’s an air of nervousness at the Kalinga tonight. The crowd is eerily silent when the ball is being played beyond the 23m line. You can hear the players giving each other instructions. There’s life only when India reach the circle or a defender makes a good tackle.

Pool D, India 0-0 Wales in Q1: First five minutes of the match, India has dominated possession, but yet to create a clear-cut chance at goal.

AND WE’RE OFF!

Here come out the teams for the national anthems

Hockey World Cup scenarios: How can Harmanpreet Singh’s India qualify directly for quarter-finals?

England has beaten Spain 4-0 to go +9 on goal difference at the top of Pool D. India will therefore have to beat Wales by eight goals to secure the top spot and move directly into the quarterfinals. India can still move to the top if they match England on goal difference (beating Wales by seven goal), but for that, Harmanpreet Singh and Co will need to score six field goals (no penalty corners).

06.45 pm: Hello all and welcome to our live coverage of the Indian team at the FIH Hockey Men’s World Cup 2023.

With England coming up with a win over Spain, India will soon know their equation for how big a margin they need against Wales. The hosts will have to come up with a big win over Wales to overtake England at the top of Pool D and book a direct spot in the quarterfinal.

Stats courtesy: TMS / FIH, Screenshots courtesy: TMS / Disney+Hotstar