All round excellence with penalty corner prowess ensured India’s smooth entry into the finals of Champions Challenge I today in Randburg.

Bharat Chetri’s India beat South Africa 4-2 in the second semi-final today to meet Belgium in the finals on Sunday.

VR Raghunath (13th minute), Sarwanjit Singh (40th) and Sandeep Singh (45th and 50th min) struck crucial goals for India.
For South Africa, the goals came from Marven Harper (8th) and Mcdade (22nd min).

The result must have surprised the Africans as they dictated the terms in the first half but buckled under the pressing Indians in the next session.

Indian defense looked weak and worn-out in the first half. In the 8th minute, a brilliant run-down by Smith in the mid-field found Drummond near India’s goalmouth. A pass to Harper and South Africa went up 1-0 putting India on the defense for the rest of the half.

In the 22nd minute, Mcdade got a pass in the circle and sent the ball in on running with a gentle touch, to the right of goalie Bharat Chetri, who played so superbly in the whole match otherwise.

India’s lone respite was when Chingelnsana found a South African foot in their circle in the 13th min. Raghunath carried forward his converting streak (from the previous match) and equalized 1-1 by scoring between the pads of South African custodian Brenden Botes.
South Africa never let Indians settle, restricted their game in the mid-field, tested India’s defense to the limits and blocked the Indian forwards from entering their circle. Many a times, Indians were dispossessed and looked as if they didn’t have a strategy to counter the aggressive South Africans.

Notably, in the first half, India didn’t make even one threatening move and earned only one penalty corner

Post half-time, Indian forwards found their missing rhythm, and as a result of brilliant team-work, Sardara Singh set-up Sarwanjit Singh. He scored a field-goal in the 40th min making it 2-2, to bring back India in the game.
Thereafter, attacks galore for India. A few minutes later, Sunil’s terrific run followed a cross pass to Yuvraj Walmiki. Although he couldn’t capitalize but India’s made their intentions clear: attack is the best defense!

Carrying forward their attacks, India earned two penalty corners. Sandeep’s high flick was accurate on both occasions (45th min and 50th min) and India was cruising ahead 4-2.
Another skillful display by Yuvraj to penetrate South African circle, piled more pressure on South Africa.

South Africa came close to scoring in the 48th minute, when Lloyd Norris-Jones came one-on-one with Chetri. He did a fabulous job and denied the South Africans their only real chance of scoring in the second half.

Down two goals, South Africa attempted a number of quick attacks in the final twenty minutes. However, an aggressive Indian midfielders and defenders – Tushar and Arjun Halappa earned Yellow cards- not allowing South Africans to dominate, it was only in the 64th minute, South Africa could earn a penalty corner. They missed it, as the flick went high above the goalpost.