India struggles to get past New Zealand, match exciting

A 3-0 lead within first 20 minutes would have led to a flurry of goals — and made amends for the pathetic game Indi has had yesterday against Australia – and give India a morale boosting victory over New Zealand. It was not to be at Hellswood Sports Complex in Mundrah, a hub away from Perth, on Tuesday.

In the remaining part of the game was India’s. But it could not move the scoreboard ahead, wayward shooting coming into play. On more than one occasion, good centres from the wings went untapped inside the circle, once even both ultimate hero SV Sunil and lethargic Sarwanjit Singh just messing it up between them. Casual attitutide of this nature came to tell on the team’s prospects in the second half.

Indian defence went in for a toss in ten minutes between 49 and 59, in which the Kiwis established suzerneity and replied for all the goals.

At 3-3, India waged to a grim battle to regain control, it was almost there.

SV Sunil got a gem of pass from Arjun Halappa, took the ball near the baseline on the left flank, flummoxed a couple of defenders, rolled the ball along the baseline inside the circle before passing to Yuvraj, who with a hawkish eye was waiting for the ball. Even as goalkeeper, who otherwise had a good game, came rushing he wasted no time to unleash whiplash of shot at goal. This goal again changed the course of the match. Within minutes Sunil again was in the picture in setting up Tushar for a goal.

Sunil’s cross from near 25-yard line was lapped up by Tushar who sent a patented forehand shot to give India two-goal lead.

Credit must be given to hard-working Sardar Singh, winger Rajpal Singh, dasher Danish Mujraba, besides Yuvraj Singh and Sunil for Tuesday’s victory, a hard earned one.

The chief coach Michael Nobbs’ claim that when a team plays attacking hockey all the team, gaps develop if not careful enough and that those loose ends need to be tightened, is a right diagnosis.