Goalkeeper Baljit Singh, aided by a good midfield support anchored by the likes of Vickram Pillay, gave India a sweet and memorable victory over the methodical Germany 2-0.

It was a rare display here, the game and its niceties.

Normally India earns a plethora of penalty corners only not to sscore. Again, the rival will get a couple of penalty corners and would walk away with couple of goals margin.

The trend, for once, has been reversed at the Sector 42 stadium here in the ongoing Punjab Gold Cup. India managed to douse a whopping EIGHT penalty corners that the famed rivals earned – and all the while converting BOTH the penalty corners it got.

The Indian’s first goal had all the trapping of genius in Indian team called Dilip Tirkey. The Rajpal’s push could not be stopped properly, it bounced only to be tapped and passed on the alert Dilip. Normally the first penalty corner effort would have died there itself, but Dilip stopped it before unleashing a whiplash of a forehander to post India the early goal – in the very second minute itself.

Prabhjot Singh, who missed a near sitter in the first half, came out triumphant in the second half. In a melee he could put the ball inside the cage. He did not remove and wave his jersey but even had he indulged in that fashion statement, none would have objected. With his goal, India was up 2-0 in the 53rd minute.

The real hero of course was Baljit Singh in the first half. Germans made waves of attack with their scheming in the flanks, excellelnt across the midfield traps, and also got seven penalty corners in the first session, followed by another one late in the second session. Leave out two, rest were well-stopped and well-executed PC shots, but Baljit was in his elements. Twice he nonchalantly kicked the ball at right moment, and once jumped as much as he could, to palm away the ball. Not just on the penalty sequences, but in one-one situations also he shone well.

He was fittingly declared the Man of the Match, it was handed over to him by Pargat Singh, Organizing Secetary of the Punjab Gold Cup.

Vikram Pillay taught a lesson or two to aspiring youngsters on how to retrieve tense situations. The whole team deserved the victory for the combined effort, but Baljit and Vickram outshone the rest.

India rested VS Vinaya and VR Raghunath for today’s match.

With this victory, India has obtained 7 points (two wins and a draw) as that of Netherlands.

Coach Harendera’s Coaching Record:

Matches : 7 (4-Argentina Series, 3-in Punjab Gold Cup).
Won: 4.
Drawn: Nil
Lost: 2 (both in Argentina).