PR Sreejesh was the star of the penalty shootouts, leading India to a 4-2 victory over Great Britain on August 4. This win moved India into the semifinals of the men’s hockey event. The match had finished 1-1 in regular time, with India playing most of the game with only 10 players because Amit Rohidas received a red card.
During the penalty shootouts, Sreejesh made an important save against Philip Roper. Rajkumar Pal then scored the decisive goal, ensuring India’s place in the final four for the second Olympics in a row. Earlier in the game, Harmanpreet Singh had given India the lead in the 22nd minute, but Lee Morton later scored to tie the match for Great Britain.
India Wins Over Great Britain Despite Red Card
India and Great Britain hockey matches are usually very exciting and intense, with umpires often giving out penalty cards to players. In the Paris Olympics 2024 quarter-final on Sunday, something unusual happened—a red card was shown, which is quite rare in modern hockey.
Amit Rohidas, an Indian player, received this red card in the 17th minute of the match because of a foul. This meant that India had to play the rest of the game with only 10 players instead of the usual 11, which is a big disadvantage, especially against a strong team like Great Britain, who are ranked second in the world.
Even with one player less, India managed to hold on and keep the score tied at 1-1 until the end of regular time. The match then went to a Penalty Shootout, where India performed brilliantly, winning 4-2. This victory allowed them to move forward to the semi-finals of the tournament.
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How the Match Unfolded?
The match began with Great Britain dominating and putting significant pressure on the Indian defense. Despite two early penalty corners for Great Britain, India managed to keep them at bay. In the 11th minute, Sreejesh made a crucial save against Samuel Ward, and as the game progressed, India started to turn up the pressure with three consecutive penalty corners, all of which Great Britain defended successfully.
The second quarter introduced the most drama of the match. Sreejesh made a key save after a midfield error allowed Great Britain into the Indian circle. The major turning point came in the 17th minute when Amit Rohidas received a red card. Rohidas, while trying to move with the ball, inadvertently struck Calnan on the head with his stick, leading to the red card after a referee discussion.
Despite being one player down, India took the lead in the 22nd minute when Harmanpreet Singh converted a penalty corner, beating Great Britain’s goalkeeper Payne. However, Great Britain equalized just before halftime with a goal from Lee Morton, making it 1-1.
The third quarter was dominated by Great Britain, with Sreejesh making a crucial save in the 32nd minute against Rupert Shipperly. India faced a flurry of penalty corners, bringing the total to 10, while Sumit received a green card, reducing India’s players to nine. Despite the pressure, India held strong.
In the fourth quarter, India started to show more attacking intent. A pivotal moment occurred in the 56th minute when Sreejesh made a spectacular save against Calnan’s shot. The match proceeded to a penalty Penalty Shootout to decide the winner.
During the Penalty Shootout, Albery scored first for Great Britain, but Harmanpreet Singh equalized for India. Wallace then scored for Great Britain, followed by Sukhjeet’s successful attempt for India, making it 2-2. Great Britain missed their next attempt as Williamson’s shot went wide.
Lailit Upadhyay then gave India the lead, and Sreejesh made a critical save against Roper. Rajkumar sealed the victory for India, sending them through to the semi-finals where they will face either Argentina or Germany.
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India Wins Over Great Britain Despite Red Card FAQs
Q.1. Who was the standout player in the penalty shootout?
Ans. PR Sreejesh was the standout player, making crucial saves that helped India win the Penalty Shootout 4-2.
Q.2. What was the final score in regular time?
Ans. The match ended 1-1 in regular time, with both teams scoring once before the Penalty Shootout.
Q.3. Why did India play with only 10 players?
Ans. Amit Rohidas received a red card in the 17th minute, leaving India to play with one less player for the remainder of the match.
Q.4. Who scored the goals for India and Great Britain?
Ans. Harmanpreet Singh scored for India, while Lee Morton scored for Great Britain.
Q.5. Which teams will India face in the semifinals?
Ans. India will face either Argentina or Germany in the semifinals of the tournament.
