The Hindu : Sport / Hockey : India levels series with emphatic win

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Sep 28, 2004

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Sport - Hockey

India levels series with emphatic win

QUETTA, SEPT. 27. A resurgent India trounced arch-rival Pakistan 4-1 in the second Test to level the eight-Test friendship hockey series 1-1 here on Monday.

A packed Gen Musa stadium watched a youthful Indian side demolish Pakistan. For India, the goal scorers were Sandeep Singh, who scored two goals in the 14th and 17th minutes, Ignace Tirkey (31st) and Tushar Khandekar (59th). Sohail Abbas reduced the margin for the loser in the 69th minute.

This was India's first win over Pakistan this year — having lost to it seven times since January. With this emphatic win, India, which had lost the first Test 1-2 in Karachi, has infused new life in the series.

The Indians converted two of the four penalty corners in the first-half while the host could convert only one of the five. India played to a plan and its forwards and mid-fielders co-ordinated well while the Pakistanis were woefully out of ideas.

Playing before the huge home crowd also put pressure on the Pakistanis who looked tentative throughout and in their eagerness to score they committed several unforced errors. The young Indian forwards played with zest and troubled the Pakistani defence throughout.

The visitor could have scored a couple of more goals but the forwards fumbled at crucial moments.

The Indians took a two-goal lead in the space of three minutes when Sandeep Singh converted the first two penalty corners India earned in the 14th and 17th minutes.

His powerful drag flicks gave no chance to either the onrushing defenders or the goalkeeper. Pakistan also forced two penalty corners in this session but on both occasions goalkeeper Adrian D'Souza brought off good saves.

A transformed lot

The Indians, who had given a lacklustre display in Karachi, looked a transformed lot and attacked from the beginning and did not give any time to their rivals to settle down. While India attacked from the flanks, the host tried to earn penalty corners rather than scoring field goals.

Pakistan's over-dependence on Sohail Abbas was to some extent its undoing and also its forwards indulged in too much of solo efforts.

The Indian defence, manned by Dilip Tirkey and William Xalco, was rock solid and Adrian D'Souza under the bar was outstanding. The midfielders frustrated the Pakistanis with some superb distribution. The forwards played their natural game and that led to a free flowing game by India.

Lead consolidated

The Indians consolidated the lead four minutes before the breather through Ignace Tirkey and went into the half-time with a 3-0 lead.

Viren Rasquinha, Vikram Pillay, Arjun Hallappa and Sandeep Micheal time and again threatened the rival, which failed to make any incisive counter-moves. However, unlike in the first session, the Pakistanis did get a couple of chances. Once Kashif Jawwad moved up but his attempt was foiled by D'Souza and then Adnan Maqsood fumbled with the ball near the goal.

Yellow card

In the 56th minute, Rasquinha was given the yellow card by umpire Amar Jeet when he collided with Pakistani skipper Waseem Ahmed. The Pakistanis tried to capitalise on the depleted strength of their rivals and forced two quick penalty corners but they messed it up as Rehan Butt's push was too fast.

The Indians counter-attacked and in the 59th minute V.S. Vinay and Ignace Tirkey created an opening and Tushar Khandekar displayed tremendous agility to shoot home the fourth goal. Three minutes before the final whistle, the Indians replaced their goalkeeper Adrian D'Souza and brought in Devesh Chauhan and immediately afterwards Pakistan earned its fifth penalty corner and this time Sohail Abbas' flick was right on target as Chauhan was slow to react. — UNI

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