The last half-minute laxity cost India the do or die battle against Australia. It almost put full stop on the hopes of India’s chances of making it to the semifinal stage. Playing spectacular, resolute, composed and determined hockey through out the match, it was an ill-luck which finally played its part and zeroed all the good work of the Indians. Despite keeping Australians at bay and busy in their own half in the most part of the last quarter of the match, Indian forwards could not break he dead lock. On the other hand Aussies forwards took full advantage of Indian defenders’ sloppiness by scoring the match winner when only 26 seconds were left for the final hooter. No doubt it was a great victory for the Australians and unforgettable loss for the Indians. Every Indian hockey fan present in the stadium or watching the proceedings live on the TV was stunned and felt sorry as Indian players played true to their potential for the first time in the Athens Olympics.

India began the match on brisk pace and made few good attempts on the Australian goal line in the first few minutes. The strategy paid dividends as India surged ahead scoring first goal of the match for the first time in three matches. The goal came in the 6th minute through the stick of Deepak Thakur, who connected an angular free hit taken by Harpal Singh just inside the 25 yard line. The goal temporarily held back the Australians but they soon summed up themselves and started making waves in the Indian territory. Within five minutes they succeeded in getting the equalizer. Experienced Troy Elder was the scorer. Thereafter both the teams played cautiously but clean, fast and attacking hockey. Both teams got few scoring opportunities but defenders were alert and watchful.

Goal keeper Adrian D’Souza effected a brilliant save off a fierce hit from Jamie Dwyer just five minutes before the breather. At half time the score remained 1-1.

On resumption Australians looked more afresh and eager to take control of the game. They dominated the proceedings right from the word go and kept Indian defence under threat. In the third minute of the play they took the lead when their crafty forward and leading goal scorer of the tournament Jamie Dwayer caught the Indian goalkeeper in the wrong place for his lofted push from the right top of the D. The lead gave them new vigour and confidence and they continued with pressure applying-tactics. In the 14th minute they scored another goal when the nippy Dwayer cut loose the Indian defence and set the ball for Michael McCann to increase the Aussies tally. With this goal it seemed all over for India but more drama and excitement was to follow. The Indian forwards suddenly woke up and threw themselves up with now or never spirit. Within two minutes they not only leveled the score but also looked like a different lot thereafter.

India’s second goal came in the 15th minute when opportunistic Gagan Ajit Singh guided a fierce hit of Harpal Singh from the 25yard line, with soft hand into the goal. It was a classical goal and an example of sheer accuracy which only can be seen in the hands of a surgical expert. I am sure that no hockey lover can recall any instance of such a wonderful goal.

Two minutes later Arjun Halappa netted the equalizer for India. This was a result of four time Olympian Dhanraj’s magic who received the ball from Vikram Pillay near the 25y line, dodged past three Aussies defenders and passed it to Ignace Tirkey inside the D. He quickly pushed it to unmarked Halappa who made no mistake in putting the ball into right place. Then there were attacks and counter attacks from the both sides but none of the team could sound the board. In the last minute Halappa made a valiant attempt as he moved in the Aussies half on his own from the central line but lost control of the ball as he was to enter the D. The resultant 16yard hit was well received by Dwayer in the Indian half. He ran down the host of defenders and passed it to Michael Brennan to score the match winner.

The Indian defenders who would have thought that it was all over after the 16yard hit, committed the biggest blunder as they didn’t fall back and leave the Aussies forwards unmarked. The last 26 seconds have done irreparable damage and almost ended the Indian hopes of moving ahead.

Apart from laxity, the poor umpiring too is responsible for India’s debacle. The South African Umpire Butler showed a yellow card to Dhanraj Pillay for no apparent foul from him in the 64th minute of play. For this reason India has to play with ten players for the crucial six minutes. It is repeatedly seen in these Games that many umpiring decisions have gone against India at vital time. In the match against South Africa on Tuesday August 17, Australian Umpire awarded a penalty corner against India in the final minutes of the game for no clear reasoning. It is pity on part of the Organising Committee and IHF to appoint Umpires from the count