The Indian hockey team fought hard but could not match Australia's firepower, losing 3-2 on day two of the Sultan of Johor Cup for Under-21 boys here on Sunday.
Winger Ramandeep Singh's brace (24th and 66th minutes) could not fetch points for India as Australia scored through Daniel Beale (7th minute), Josh Walters (29th minute) and Cameron Joyce (50th minute) to edge past.
India got many chances to score the equaliser in the last five minutes but inexperience cost it dearly. India will next meet Pakistan on Tuesday which, like India, has last both the games it has played so far.
India and Australia showcased an exciting brand of hockey, with both sides matching each other's moves.
India did not seem intimidated by its rival, and it got its first penalty corner in the second minute, but Sampath Kumar's shot went wide.
In the seventh minute, Australia came up with a stunner. Beale, who received a pass at the top of circle, turned and sent in a powerful reverse crashing inside the goalpost.
Two minutes later India survived a scare when Brodie Sarre failed to push the ball full length off its first penalty corner, leaving Devinder Walmiki to clear from danger area.
Satbir then sprinted from the right flank and sent a diagonal pass to Ramandeep but he hastened with his shot. However, he made amends in the next minute connecting a free-hit from the right flag area.
But India soon gave away an easy goal when keeper Harmanpreet Singh kicked a shot feebly and the following clearance by Walmiki was feebler.
Josh Walters, lurking there, gently pushed the ball to the right of Harmanpreet.
Shoddy defence led to Australia gaining its fourth penalty corner. William Shaw took the shot, goalie Harmanpreet blocked and fell, but Cameron tapped in the rebound, as no defender was there to cover the cage. The Indians did not give up and created chances but muffed up due to poor finishing.
Shortly after failing to connect a cross, Ramandeep Singh sent the ball to the right corner of the cage.
At that time, the Australians had been reduced to 10 after Josh Walters was yellow-carded.
The match turned slightly ill-tempered in the last five minutes when Walmiki and Amit Rohidas got yellow cards in that spell.
The results: Australia 3 (Daniel Beale 7th, Josh Walters 29th, Cameron Joyce 50th) bt India 2 (Ramandeep Singh 24th, 66th), Korea 2 bt Pakistan 1, Malaysia 1 drew with New Zealand 1.
Saturday's result: Australia 2 bt Malaysia 1.
