In a nail-biting encounter at the FIH Men’s Pro League 2025-26 Hobart leg, the Indian hockey team suffered a heartbreaking 3-4 shootout loss to Spain after a 1-1 regular time draw on February 25 in Hobart.
India held a slender 1-0 lead until the 59th minute, courtesy of Maninder Singh’s clinical strike. But Spain’s Bruno Font equalized in the dying moments, forcing the match into a tense shootout where India faltered.
Spain came out firing, earning a penalty corner as early as the fourth minute, but Indian goalkeeper Mohit comfortably saved the drag-flick. An eighth-minute goal by Jose Basterra was disallowed, keeping the scoreline blank.
India’s first real chance came in the 14th minute with a penalty corner, but Amit Rohidas’ effort was denied by Luis Calzado. The breakthrough arrived at the 19th minute when captain Hardik Singh’s precise pass set up Maninder for a tomahawk finish that put India ahead.
Suraj Karkera was immense in goal, thwarting Pepe Kunil’s penalty corner shot and later denying Basterra. Abhishek dazzled with his runs, nearly doubling the lead, but halftime arrived with India leading 1-0.
The third quarter saw Spain press hard, earning back-to-back penalty corners that Mohit repelled superbly. Spain was reduced to 10 players after Fortuno’s green card, and India almost capitalized via Jugraj Singh’s drag-flick, saved by Calzado.
India too went down to 10 after Sanjay’s green card in the 45th. Spain pushed, but Karkera stood tall. Vishnu Kant Singh won a penalty corner in the 52nd, but Rohidas missed.
Disaster struck in the 59th when a defensive lapse let Font score the equalizer. Spain won three penalty corners in the final 13 seconds but couldn’t break through, leading to shootouts.
Abhishek and Hardik’s misses proved costly as Spain clinched victory 4-3. India earned just one point from this grueling battle. Next up, Australia on Wednesday.