IND vs GER 1st Hockey Test: Harmanpreet Singh & Co. Face Humiliation As India Lose 0-2 to Germany

India's hockey team suffered a disappointing loss to Germany in the first match at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi on Wednesday, October 23. Despite having multiple penalty corner opportunities, India failed to capitalize on them, ultimately losing 0-2 to Germany. 

Henrik Mertgens and captain Lukas Windfeder scored the goals for Germany, giving them a 1-0 lead in the two-match Test series. 

There was great excitement surrounding the series as international hockey was returning to the national capital for the first time after 2014.

The Major Dhyan Chand Stadium witnessed a good turnout but the fans had to return disappointed as home team's ever-reliable skipper and star drag-flicker Harmanpreet Singh endured a rare off day.

The second Test of the series will be played on Thursday.

The Indians were slow off the blocks as Germany dominated the exchanges in the first quarter. The two teams were clashing for the first time after Germany beat India in the Paris Olympics semifinal.

It took only four minutes for the visitors to take the lead, courtesy some poor defending from the Indians. Mertgens was quick to spot the opportunity and slammed home the ball for the early edge.

Germany secured the first penalty corner of the match four minutes later but India went for a video referral which was upheld.

The Indians made some circle penetrations but didn't really threaten the German defence.

In the ninth minute, India secured their first penalty corner but wasted the opportunity in the absence of Harmanpreet, who had been substituted in that moment.

The Indians came back strongly in the second quarter and dominated the exchanges.

India secured their second penalty corner in the 22nd minute and went for variation but Sanjay's effort went wide.

Three minutes later, India earned another penalty corner, but Amit Rohidas' grounded flick was easily saved by the German defence.

Seconds later, back-to-back penalty corners came India's way but not a goal as Harmanpreet looked off colour.

India's sixth penalty corner came in the 27th minute from which Dilpreet Singh scored from a rebound but the Germans protested and the umpire asked for a referral, which resulted in a penalty stroke for the hosts.

But as luck would have it, India's most trusted player and skipper Harmanpreet's effort from the spot was saved by the German keeper Joshua Onyekwue Nanji.

Germany secured their second penalty corner 14 seconds from half-time, and skipper Windfeder shot went past the Indian keeper to hand his side a 2-0 lead.

The Indians continued to apply pressure after the change of ends and in the 41st minute secured their seventh penalty corner, followed by another but Harmanpreet could not convert on both occasions.

In the resultant counter-attack, Germany secured a penalty corner, which was saved by Indian goalkeeper Krishan Bahadur Pathak.

India withdrew their goalkeeper for an extra field player five minutes from the hooter but it hardly made any difference to the final outcome. 

(With PTI inputs)