Antwerp, June 14 -- Australia staged a strong comeback from a two-goal deficit to defeat India 3-2 in the ongoing FIH Hockey Pro League 2024/25 match held in Antwerp on Saturday, delivering another heartbreaking result for the Indian side.

Following four successive narrow losses in the European leg, the Indian men's hockey team, sans their captain Harmanpreet Singh, had a dream start against Australia until they floundered with a lead in the final quarter, allowing their opponents to come back. It was goals by Nathan Ephraums (42'), Joel Rintala (56') and Tom Craig (60') that put Australia ahead, while Abhishek (8', 35') scored a double for India, as per a Hockey India press release.

It was an entertaining opening quarter with India tak...