The Indian women's hockey team avenged their first-leg defeat by defeating Germany 3-0 in a thrilling shootout to clinch the FIH Pro League two-legged tie.
The home team had lost 1-2 in a shootout in the previous encounter at the same Kalinga Stadium.
Both teams were tied at 1-1 at the end of regulation time, as they had been in the last encounter, forcing a shoot-out.
Kumari Sangita, Sonika, and Tete Salima all scored from their shoot-out attempts, while none of the Germans, including Lena Frerichs, Lilly Stoffelsma, and Sara Strauss, were able to score from their three tries, with Savita, the home side's captain and goalkeeper, doing an outstanding job of denying the visitors.
In the 29th minute, Felicia Wiedermann gave world number 5 Germany the lead with a penalty corner conversion, but Nisha equalised with a field goal in the 40th minute.
No. 9 in the world India earned two points from the match, including a bonus point, while Germany earned one point.
With 12 points from six games, India moved up to second position in the FIH Pro League standings, one place behind Argentina (12 points from four matches).
In the encounter, India was awarded three penalty corners but failed to use any of them, whereas Germany converted one of the five penalty corners they were awarded.
India had 89 percent ball possession and five circle entries in the first quarter, but they failed to score.
In the second quarter, where they held a little advantage, the Germans came back stronger. In this session, they had greater possession and circle penetration. Felicia Wiedermann scored one minute before halftime from one of the two penalty corners they received in this quarter.
In the second quarter, India's debutant goalkeeper, Kharibam Bichu Devi, also survived a key penalty stroke.
In the third quarter, the home team came out with renewed enthusiasm and tied the game in the 40th minute on a field goal by Nisha after a good team build-up.
India's next matches are on April 2 and 3 at the same venue against England.
The Indian women had a strong start to their first season in the Pro League, defeating China 7-1 and 2-1 in their first two games in Muscat.
The Indians then won 2-1 at home against world No. 6 Spain before losing 3-4 in the return match last month to a 3-4 defeat in the return leg last month.
