The Hindu : India begins with a facile win

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 03, 2004

Sport

Sport - Hockey

India begins with a facile win

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, MARCH 2. The Indian junior team opened its four-match series against Malaysia with an impressive-looking 4-1 victory at the Shivaji Stadium here on Tuesday.

After a rather patchy performance in the first half when they led 2-1, the Indian juniors came back strongly in the second to notch up a comfortable margin, though in overall terms the show fell below expectations.

Girish Pimpale netted two, while skipper V. S. Vinay and Tushar Khandkar got in the other goals for the home team. P. Prabhakaran scored Malaysia's solitary goal.

The Indian team took its own time to strike a rhythm, especially in the frontline. The midfield, ably marshalled by Vinay, who kept probing deep into the rival `D', was able to gain control quite easily. Yet, the frontline hardly gained the momentum that could breach a crowded Malaysian defence.

Vinay, coming from behind and latching onto a loose ball just inside the 25-yard, dribbled his way up and tapped in for an easy opening goal in the sixth minute and seven minutes later, a Nitin Kumar run on the right ended up with Pimpale getting a deflection into the goal to make it 2-0.

The Indians were denied a penalty stroke hereafter when Mohammed Salehin `carried' on the line, before Prabhakaran came up with a brilliant goal off a counter attack initiated by Sevaraju Sandrakasi to cut the margin for the visiting team. It was an angled drive on the run by the Malaysian playmaker that beat goalkeeper Adrian D' Souza comprehensively.

The Indian team brought in a few quick changes in the second half and that provided additional thrust to the attack. Pimpale took off on the left to relay the ball in front of the goalmouth in the eighth minute only to see Bijinder Lakra muff the chance. A melee ensued, however, and Khandkar cashed in, with a tap. Pimpale ended the scoring 10 minutes from the end, with a hard hit following a cross from the right.

The Indian defence was hardly tested by the slow-moving Malaysians. Full back Sandeep Singh, one of the seven Indian players in this junior side with some experience at the senior level also, could not show his drag-flicking expertise with the first penalty corner India had in the first half. He had a good shy with the second, in the second half, but goalkeeper Hanazi Hasan rose to the occasion.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport