India tame battling France 6-2 to go top
Biswajyoti Brahma, TNN
NEW DELHI: It took India just four minutes into the second half to kill the match. When SV Sunil slammed home the hosts’ fifth goal in the 39th minute, France knew they were staring down the barrel. India thus took a giant step towards making the final of the Olympic qualifiers with the emphatic 6-2 win at the Major Dhyanchand National Stadium on Tuesday night.
The first half was set up perfectly with India scoring three goals and France reducing the margin — just before the half-time hooter — through Lucas Sevestre to raise the prospect of a keen contest.
Unfortunately, France lost the plot when they returned and conceded two quick goals — the first one scored by Sandeep Singh from India’s second penalty corner in the 37th minute and the second by Sunil. After that, France simply played catch-up.
France did manage to pull one back in the 57th minute through Fabien Magner, but Tushar Khandker underlined India’s superiority with a spectacular goal in the 62nd minute. The French had themselves to blame for the margin of the defeat as they failed to capitalize on the chances.
Before their first goal, the only time France could test goalkeeper Bharat Chetri was in the 21st minute when the Indian skipper stopped a stinging shot off France’s first penalty corner.
India started the match in right earnest with Khandker brilliantly retrieving the ball on the left flank and passing on to Sarvanjit Singh whose set up Shivendra Singh nicely to slot it home in the 4th minute. India soon had a 2-0 advantage with Sandeep Singh scoring from India’s first penalty corner with a fierce drag-flick. India were awarded a penalty stroke when a rampaging Sunil, after a solo run from the half-line, was brought down inside the ‘D’ by France’s Frederic Verrier. Sandeep had no problem in making it 3-0. That was in the 30th minute.
Though the Indian team’s Aussie coach termed the performance clinical, India would do well to shed the individual style of play employed by some players in the match. “Clearly we are improving with each match, not making many errors. I would say this was a clinical display,” coach Michael Nobbs said.
Earlier, Italy showed some pluck in the first half but that was not enough to stop Poland from recording an emphatic 7-2 win. It was another miserable day for tournament’s whipping boys Singapore who were thumped 15-1 by Canada.
Results
India beat France 6-2;
Poland beat Italy 7-2;
Canada beat Singapore 15-1
Wednesday’s matches: Poland vs Singapore (12 noon), Italy vs France (4pm), India vs Canada (8pm).