The Hindu : Sport : A disappointing win for India

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Mar 23, 2006

Sport

Sport

A disappointing win for India

S. Thyagarajan

Pakistan `ensures' a semifinal berth for Malaysia

Melbourne: In a classic case of tumbling in and tumbling out, India was winkled out of a spot in the semifinals of the hockey competition.

Under pressure to slot in at least three goals against South Africa to remain in the hunt, the team registered a laboured 2-0 result. Yet, hope lingered on Pakistan bailing it out by beating Malaysia at least by a margin of two goals.

An incredible recovery

However in an agonising turn of events, Pakistan — leading 4-2 at half-time and 5-2 shortly after — conceded Malaysia the space to stage an incredible recovery to level at 5-5. Pakistan then ensured a win in the final minutes.

The configuration to identify the second outfit after Pakistan surged to the top of Pool B, needed a calculator to keep track of points, goals scored, conceded, difference, aggregate and what not.

India's total was 14 against 11 by Malaysia at the end of the first match. The goal difference at that point for India and Malaysia was plus eight and nine respectively. The 5-6 verdict for Malaysia brought the goal difference on par with India at eight.

Eventually, goal aggregate of 16, five of them conceded by Pakistan, as a consequence of terrible goal-keeping by Salman Akbar and the defence, helped Malaysia end up in the last four. India totalled 14.

Pakistan's capitulation from a position of strength to the edge of defeat, especially after the 5-2 lead, caused disbelief. Eyebrows were arched over the preposterous defence work that tarnished the image of Pakistan as a major power. "That looked very unusual,'' commented a former Aussie international.

But there need be no commiseration for India, which got itself into a knot from day one. At least, the team should have scored a few more against Trinidad and Tobago anticipating such embarrassing moments.

Commenting on the outcome, Pakistan skipper Muhammad Saqlain said: "Our goalkeeper made some mistakes; our apologies to the Indian team.'' Kuhen netted four of the five penalty corners, and the other hit the post.

The jubilation in the Malaysian camp was understandable. When the Pakistan's defence offered so many gaps, the Malaysians simply wove in and out and the goals surfaced with unbelievable ease.

Malaysia will take on the reigning champion Australia in the semifinals on Friday, with Pakistan locking horns with England. India will play New Zealand for the 5-6 places.

India was excruciatingly ponderous against South Africa, lacking in fervour, flavour and finesse, leave alone a trace of fluency. The attack was anything but cohesive. Only Tejbir Singh and Tushar Khandekar put in some effort.

The positive point, however, was the tireless mid-field where left-half Prabhodh Tirkey attracted attention, along with Arjun Halappa.

Actually, it was Halappa who created several openings but the frontline's disarray rendered them ineffective. Kanwalpreet Singh functioned with a measure of authority. Goalkeeper Chetri effected a couple of superb saves, displaying amazing alacrity.

A splendid penalty corner by Sandeep Singh in the early minutes gave India the lead and late in the second half Tushar Khandekar netted the other.

The results: Men: Pool A: England 5 (James Tindell, Simon Mantell, Mathew Daly 3) beat Canada 1 (Connor Grimes); Australia 5 (Mark Knowels, Liem de Young, Luke Doerner, Grant Schubert, Jaime Dwyer) beat New Zealand 2 (Gereth Brooks, Simon Child).

Pool B: India 2 (Sandeep Singh, Tushar Khandekar) beat South Africa 0; Pakistan 6 (Muhammad Imran 2, Shakeel Abbasi 2, Shabbir Hussain, Imran Muhammad) beat Malaysia 5 (Kuhen 4, Chua Huat).

Points table: (read as played, won, draw, lost, goals for, goals against, points) Pool A: (Australia 4, 4, 0, 0, 20, 5, 12; England 4, 3, 0, 1, 13, 10, 9; New Zealand 4, 2, 0, 2, 14, 10, 6; Scotland 4, 1, 0, 3, 4, 13, 3; Canada 4, 0, 0, 4, 3, 16, 3. Pool B: Pakistan 4, 3, 1, 0, 18, 8, 10; Malaysia 4, 2, 1, 1, 16, 8, 7; India 4, 2, 1, 1, 14, 6, 7; South Africa 4, 1, 1, 2, 8, 6, 4; Trinidad and Tobago 4, 0, 0, 4, 3, 31, 0.

Thursday's matches: Women: (9-10 places); Barbados v Nigeria (3 a.m.); semifinal: Australia v England (5-30 a.m.);(5-6): Malaysia v Scotland (8 a.m.); semifinal: New Zealand v India (12 noon); (7-8): South Africa v Canada (2-30 p.m.).