Hockey: Vaishnavi Vittal Phalke scores lone goal in India’s 1-4 loss to Germany

The Indian women’s hockey team lost 1-4 to Germany in the first of the two matches against the hosts played at Wiesbaden on Tuesday. Vaishnavi Vittal Phalke (29’) was the lone goal-scorer for India while Nike Lorenz (6’, 59’) and Jette Fleschütz (14’, 43’) scored a brace each in Germany’s win.

The hosts began the match on an attacking note, putting India on the backfoot at the very beginning. They scored back-to-back goals in the first quarter mounting pressure on India’s defence. Germany’s first goal came off Nike Lorenz’s well-executed penalty corner while the team’s second goal came off a penalty stroke via Fleschütz. Though the visitors tried to bounce back when they were awarded a penalty corner in the 11th minute, the chance could not be converted.

However, in the second quarter, India emerged from the early setback with a well-structured game. While they didn’t allow any goals by Germany, they successfully converted a penalty corner in the 29th minute through Vaishnavi.

With the score reading 2-1 at half time, Germany returned to the pitch with a plan to test the Indian defence. While India lived up to the fight, an infringement by India’s defence while halting the German attack in the circle, saw them...

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