FIGHT FOR POSSESSION: India's Jasjeet Kaur tries to get past New Zealand's Sheree Phillips (right) and Kate Mahon in the Indira Gandhi International Gold Cup hockey tournament in New Delhi. — Photo: V. Sudershan

NEW DELHI: The smiles on the faces of the Indian girls reflected the satisfaction of a job well done. After all, the league match against New Zealand was a virtual semifinal and the 2-1 win cleared the path to the final of the Indira Gandhi International Gold Cup at the National Stadium here.

With the third straight victory, India now plays Australia in the last league game on Friday. For Australia, that defeated Italy 4-1 earlier on Wednesday, even a draw would be enough to pip New Zealand in the race to the final.

Later, a rather amusing situation occurred when the Technical Table credited India's goals to Saba Anjum and Sanggai Chanu in that order, while the Indian team clarified to the mediapersons that reverse was true.

The confusion continued with Chanu claiming the credit for both goals when some newspersons approached her.

Before leaving the stadium, Kaushik reconfirmed that the scorers were Chanu and Saba.

However, the Technical Officer Bula Ganguly maintained the order of Saba and Chanu because of the inconsistency in the views of the Indian camp.

Strangely, the Team Manager Anurita Saini signed the score-sheet without checking out the scorers' name.

Thwart designs

Coming back to the on-field action, India did well to thwart the designs of New Zealand before the interval.

In the second half, with the Kiwi girls running out of steam in what their coach Ian Rutledge described as "hot conditions," India struck twice in the space of 10 minutes before conceding one with six minutes left.

"We were effective on this day," said India's coach M. K. Kaushik, looking pleased with the way the team had performed in the `big' match. "Our defence stood up to the pressure in the first half and (captain) Helen Mary did a great job under the bar. In the second, our forward line did the needful," he said.

Indeed, the Indian defence did well to foil seven penalty corners, including five in the first half. India forced five penalty corners but tasted success only off the last one in the 50th minute when Rajwinder Kaur's first hit deflected off Chanu's stick before finding the roof of the goal.

Relentless attack

In fact, it was India's relentless attack that earned it three penalty corners in quick succession in the second half before the lead came India's way.

Buoyant after getting ahead, India struck again. Following a free-hit, Mamta Kharab pushed the ball into the circle where Chanu took the first shot at the goal. The ball rebounded off goalkeeper Beth Jurgeleit and Saba pushed it in.

New Zealand almost scored off a counter-attack but a timely clearance by Subhadra Pradhan saved India.

Tight defence

But within minutes, Christchurch-born striker Honor Dillon fired a rasping shot that beat the defence and Helen Mary for the first time.

In the remaining six minutes, the Indians defended tightly to keep the lead and win the contest.

The New Zealand coach gave the Indians the due but also pointed out that the Kiwi girls were struggling to adapt to the slow nature of the turf.

"This is not an excuse and we should learn to play in all conditions and surfaces," said Rutledge making clear that his team lacked the experience to tackle the Indians who were clearly better on this day.

Earlier, Australia's 4-1 win over Italy came on expected lines with Sarah Taylor and captain Nikki Hudson scoring the first two goals before Angie Skirving contributed once on either side of the interval. In fact, for once, Angie succeeded in scoring off a penalty corner.

For Italy, Matilde Canavosio converted the team's fourth and last penalty corner in the 65th minute.

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