New Delhi, 15 Jan 2014: India flattered to deceive against World champions Australia here tonight. The young and inexperienced Indian team, ranked a lowly 10th in the world, shocked the mighty Australians with two stunning field goals in the first 11 minutes. And then they continued in the same vein for another 13 minutes.
It took all of 24 minutes for the Australians to wake up and realise the damage. Celebrated coach Ric Charlesworth, who questioned India’s ability to believe in themselves after India’s good showing against Olympic champions Germany in the previous match, conceded today after the match that he was a worried man. “Yes, I was worried. I have seen many teams dominating the match lose in the end. We were 0-2 down and yes I was definitely worried,’’ he said.
Indian coach Terry Walsh continued to harp on the lack of physiological abilities and the rough play as reasons and did not agree that India lacked the mental fitness to take advantage of such early lead.
India rarely plays a defensive strategy and they get carried away by sparks of brilliance and that is what exactly happened today as India is never trained to slow down the game and play cool. But the Walsh said that the rattling of the might Aussies in itself was a big take-away today despite the huge loss.
One player who played a key role in Australia waking up from their slumber was Glenn Turner. It is his 100th international match in the Australian senior team and the man of the match may be an icing on the cake, but the bald-plated attacking striker set-up two goals and scored one which rallied the Kookas and got them the peace of mind as they went into the break.
For the record, Birenda Lakra powerful hit in the sixth minute deflected off a defender’s stick into the goal. Five minutes later, Yuvraj Walmiki, celebrated his return to Indian team after a long gap and the 3000-odd crowd erupted into a roar and continued to egg on the Indians. Not until the Australian equalizer did the cheering stop.
In the 24th minute when Nicholas Budgeon pulled one back for the Australians team with a powerful drag flick past Indian goalie Sreejesh and within five minute Jason Wilson struck the equaliser. It was a long cross into the India `D’ by Man of the Match Glenn Turner from the right flank that rose dangerously before Wilson slotted in but the umpire ignored the dangerous play and whistled for a goal.
When one thought that the teams will break at the half time on equal terms, Aussie gained the advantage converting one more field goal. It was Jacob Whetton who set-up the goal nicely for Turner who made no mistake at the all-important end.
The second half was goal fest for Australia as they added four more. Like a wounded tiger, they came back with vengeance through two goals from Russel Ford in the 41st and 47th minutes. Simon Orchard scored in between in the 45th minute while Whetton rounded it off five minutes before the hooter for a 7-2 rout.
ends