The Hindu: New Zealand Thrashes India
Pakistan starts with a win
FROM S.THYAGARAJAN

Sporadic incandescence paid no dividends for India which capitulated against a more professional and well programmed approach of New Zealand to taste a 1-5 defeat in the opening match of the Sultan Azlan Shah hockey tournament on Thursday.

The sad part of it all is that the margin does not truly reflect the pressure from the Kiwis throughout. A bigger tally would have surprised none.

Giving away eight penalty corners underscored the vulnerability of the Indian defenders almost throughout.

Whatever support the mid-field, headed by Sardar Singh, provided was rendered ineffective by the deep defenders. Wing half Birendra Lakra was also conspicuous in his workouts. He played a part in providing a perfect pass to Shivendra to restore parity fairly early in the match after India was stunned by a second minute goal by Simon Child.

India’s problems stemmed largely from the ineffective combination in the frontline. True, individually S.V. Sunil and Yuvaraj functioned with a measure of proficiency with assistance from Danish. But the thrust required to get the better of the tall and lithe Kiwi defenders was totally missing.

India managed only two penalty corners in the match—both in the second half—but as ill-luck would have it flicker Sandeep Singh was on the bench at that point of time. Raghunath, usually a good substitute for Sandeep, failed to live up to the expectations.

The smile on the face of Sean McLeod mirrored the measure of satisfaction of the Kiwi coach. This was an understandable sentiment.

Everything rolled out for the New Zealanders in the way had programmed as they went on to enlarge the margin from 2-1 in the first half to the eventual 5-1.

Shea Mcaleleese was the true architect of the Kiwi’s moment of triumph. He commanded the mid-field with palpable authority. His interceptions, clearances which were adept and accurate kept keeping forwards in an enviable rhythm.

The opportunism of Simon Child in the second minute that hoisted the lead and the set pieces by Andy Hayward and Nick Wilson all pronounced that the Kiwis deserved the outcome thoroughly.

Had it not been for some desperate saves by Sreejesh and the post coming in the way of Andy Hayward’s fierce shot from a penalty corner,, the story of the day would have been far more humiliating.

India’s coach Michael Nobbs was candid enough to admit his disappointment, especially by the display in the second half. He re-emphasized the fact how “silly mistakes” cost the game for India. “I am more angry than disappointed,” he observed and reiterated hat the team was still on a learning curve.

What appeared to be sedate contest with neither team showing any hint of cohesion suddenly sprang to life with five goals emerging in the second session.

Yet, as a contest it was not beyond the pale of mediocrity. Pakistan managed to fight back to take full points after allowing Argentina to level from 0-2 to 2-2. The defenders on both sides committed far too many errors.

Taking into account that Pakistan was compelled to field a new-look team after the uncertain future facing the seven who had played in WSH, the outcome was satisfactory.

To the credit of Pakistan, it must be said that the goals by Waqas and Abdul Haseem were eye catching as did the penalty corner flick from the inimitable veteran Sohail Abbas who hoisted the second goal.

The results: Pakistan 4 (Irfan Muhammad ,Sohail Abbas, Abdul Haseem, Waqas Muhammad) beat Argentina 2 (Gonzalo Palliet, Mathias Parades) HT 1-0.

New Zealand 5 (Simon Child, Andy Hayward, Nick Wilson, Stephen Jenness, Matt L’huillier) beat India 1 (Shivendra Singh) 2-1.

Korea 1 (Seo Jung Ho) drew with Malaysia 1 (Faisal Saari) HT 1-0.

Friday’s matches: New Zealand v Argentina (1-35 p.m.); Great Britain v Malaysia (3-35 p.m.); Korea v India (5-35 p.m.)