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Goalkeeper PR Sreejesh put on another superb show as India managed a 3-2 victory over Malaysia in their Pool A FIH Hockey World Cup encounter at the Greenfields Stadium last night. |
Though India dominated most of the proceedings, Malaysia did well to come back in the match in the last 10 minutes but the 1975 champions managed to hold onto their lead, thanks to some valiant saves by Sreejesh to register their first win in the tournament. While it was Malaysia’s fourth consecutive loss, the win for India came after a draw and two consecutive losses.
Jasjit Singh Kular (15th) opened the scoring for India while Akashdeep Singh (49th, 51st) got a brace. For Malaysia, Razle Adbul Rahim (46th) and Marhan Jalil (61st) were the scorers.
With nine minutes left, Malaysia stepped up the attack and put the pressure on the Indian defence. Sreejesh was again superb as he made an array of fantastic saves allowing India to maintain the lead and register a much needed win.
The result takes India’s tally to four points, moving them up to fourth place in the standings. Malaysia sit at the bottom of the pool and remain without a point.
India, ranked 8th in FIH rankings, dominated the first half of the Asian derby match from start to finish, pressing their 13th ranked opponents deep into their own territory for long periods. They created number of decent scoring opportunities before the opening goal arrived in the 14th minute. Kular was the scorer, rifling the ball against the backboard following a Indian penalty corner that didn’t go to plan but certainly proved to be effective.
The equalising goal arrived for Malaysia from a penalty corner in the 46th minute, with Rahim’s powerful drag-flick finding its way into the Indian goal via a defenders’ stick.
However, India reasserted their authority on the match with two terrific field goals from Akashdeep Singh. The final ten minutes were played at a blistering pace, as the action breathlessly shifted from one end to the other. Malaysia’s Marhan Jalil made things interesting with an open play strike in the 61st minute, although India had a number of great chances to kill the game ahead of the sound of the full-time hooter.
Skipper Sardar Singh was delighted with his team’s first win. “The guys are doing a really wonderful job because match by match we are really improving and playing consistent hockey. We are happy to win our first game,” he said.
Australia thump England
In late game, Australia thrashed England 5-0 to top men’s group B. The game was just 24 seconds old when Australia opened their account. Matt Gohdes took advantage of a turnover by GlennTurner and slammed the ball to goal to signal the start of a 5-0 demolition job that left England stunned and demoralised.
On 13 minutes Liam de Young doubled the Australian lead through a penalty corner, and with the clock approaching the half hour, Jamie Dwyer (30’) was on hand to tap in a cross from the tenacious Jacob Whetton.
The most audacious goal of the day came on the stroke of half time. Mark Knowles threw a terrific aerial ball from just beyond the half-way line and, as it started its trajectory into the circle, and unmarked Kieran Govers was on hand to trap it mid-air and angle it past George Pinner into the goal. The England goalkeeper was furious with his defence, but there was a feeling that this was a day when all Australia touched would turn to gold. Aran Zawelski (38’) scored the fifith goal shooting home with precision and power.
Belgium, South Korea stay alive
Meanwhile, Belgium’s men and South Korea’s women both remained in the running for the semi-final spots. Belgium had four players score goals in taking a 5-0 lead and knocking off Spain 5-2 in group A action to move to nine points from four games.
The Belgians got double strikes from Tanguy Cosyns (13th minute) and Alexandre de Saedeleer (16th) and then Emmanuel Stockbroekx (34th) and Cosyns (38th) before John-John Dohmen made it 5-0 after 47 minutes. Spain, who have two points from two draws, scored two consolation goals through Eduard Tubau and Santi Freixa.
The South Korea women blasted by Belgium 4-2 thanks to two goals each by Park Mi Hyun and Cheon Eun Bi. After Cheon’s opening goal in the 12th minute, Jill Boon and Alix Gerniers scored to give Belgium the lead 2-1 after 39 minutes. But Park tallied in the 49th and 55th minutes to reverse the lead. And Cheon made it 4-2 after 61 minutes.
India’s Akashdeep Singh (left) attempts to score past Malaysia’s Tengku Ahmad during the Hockey World Cup in The Hague, The Netherlands. (AFP)