24-carat harvest on hockey field

This was the second golden goal victory for the Indians in this competition after their dramatic 4-3 victory against South Africa in the play-off for the semi-finals.

This match too had its share of drama as the golden goal, off a penalty corner, was initially disallowed by referee Ashton Lucy of Australia on the grounds that it was scored after the hooter for the end of the first half of extra-time went off.

But the decision was changed after discussions between the two field umpires who ruled that the ball had not gone out of the circle after the penalty corner was taken and according to rules play was still on even after the end of time.

The shot by Suman Bala was saved by Hilary Rose in the England goal but Kharab pounced on the loose ball behind her and forced it into the England goal.

Though England dominated the initial stages of the first half, India shot into the lead against the run of play when Mamata Kharab scored off a penalty corner in the 21st minute. Sita Gossain made it 2-0 nine minutes later.

England fought back in the dying moments of the first half and reduced the margin just a minute before the breather through a controversial field goal by skipper Sarah Blanks. Ten minutes into the second half, England struck again and tied the score with a field goal by Jene Smith. Smith’s hit took a deflection from the stick of Mamata Kharab before going inside the Indian goal-line.

England forced a penalty corner in the very first minute of the extra-time and came tantalisingly close to scoring the golden goal. A powerful hit by an English forward was saved just before the goalmouth by Mamata Kharab. India kept up the counter-attack and were awarded the penalty corner when just 10 seconds were remaining in the first session of extra-time.