Join WhatsApp Channel
India missed an opportunity to reach its second FIH Women’s World Cup semifinal after playing to a scoreless draw against Australia at Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen on Sunday.
India entered the match at the bottom of the group with one point and needed a victory to advance. Australia held a slight advantage because it had scored three goals in the tournament, compared with India’s two. Both teams had the same goal difference, with Australia scoring three and conceding five, while India scored two and conceded four.
Earlier, the Netherlands defeated China 4-1, keeping India’s semifinal hopes alive. However, India was unable to capitalize on the result.
India had several opportunities to score from open play and enjoyed periods of territorial control. Australia earned more penalty corners, but India created enough chances to win the match. Poor finishing ultimately proved costly.
Australia appeared to take the lead in the second minute when an attacker deflected a cross from the right into the goal. India challenged the decision, and the goal was disallowed.
India produced several promising moves toward the end of the opening quarter but lacked the finishing touch, leaving the match scoreless after the first 15 minutes.
Australia earned the game’s first penalty corner in the 17th minute after Mariah Williams entered the striking circle and was obstructed by Shilpi Dabbas. The Australians failed to convert the opportunity.
India goalkeeper Savita made an important save in the 20th minute to deny another Australian attack.
India earned its first penalty corner shortly before halftime and attempted an indirect variation. The move broke down after an Indian forward kicked the ball during the scramble in front of the Australian goal.
Australia received its second penalty corner in the 40th minute and found the net, but India successfully challenged the decision. The Indian players argued that the ball had first struck an Australian player on the shoulder, and the goal was overturned.
The match remained scoreless at the end of the third quarter. India continued to create chances in the final period but could not find the decisive goal.
Australia joined the Netherlands in the semifinals, while India and China were relegated to the fifth-to-eighth-place classification matches. India finished third in the group, ahead of China on goal difference, and will now compete for fifth place.
India’s only previous World Cup semifinal appearance came at the inaugural tournament in France in 1974. It lost 1-0 to Argentina in the semifinal before falling to Germany in the third-place match to finish fourth.
The Netherlands won the 1974 title by defeating Argentina 1-0. India was the only team to beat the Netherlands during the group stage that year, with Baljit Bhatti scoring the match’s lone goal.
