Sublime Sandeep scripts India’s win

New Delhi, Feb. 28: Espectaculo!Jose Brasa and his boys just could do no wrong on the day as India made a strong statement hammering Pakistan 4-1 in their opening game of the 12th Hockey World Cup here on Sunday.
The atmosphere was electric, and India’s performance on the day was no less.

It was free-flowing hockey at its best as the hosts rekindled the magic of old, putting on a clinical display. What the 17,000-odd spectators at the Major Dhyan Chand Stadium witnessed on the day will stay etched in their memories for a long, long time.

The day also revealed a lot about Brasa and his methods. The coach it seems has a lot of tricks in his bag and the first was revealed when he preferred P.R. Sreejesh in place of regular goalkeeper Adrian D’Souza against Pakistan.

The match began at an even pace, with India picking up momentum gradually. Soon, Pakistan were all at sea as the Indians attacked relentlessly.

The home side drew first blood in the 25th minute when Shivendra Singh slammed the ball in off a rebound past Pakistan goalkeeper Salman Akbar, evoking huge roars from the crowd. There was no stopping them thereafter.

Rolling substitutions were used to good effect as the Indians covered the depth of the field tirelessly.
Australian coach Ric Charlesworth might have criticised the referral system earlier in the day, but it came to India’s aid when they were awarded a penalty corner in the 35th minute.

Drag-flicker Sandeep, who was not at his best in defence so far, made no mistake when it came to his area of expertise. The 24-year old sent a searing shot past Akbar to make it 2-0.

One expected the change of ends would bring a change of fortunes for Pakistan, but that did not happen.
Forward Prabhjot Singh took rival defenders Zeeshan Ashraf and Sohail Abbas by surprise when he converted on a goalmouth melee, finding the net with a gem to put the matter beyond the Green Shirts.
Pakistan goalkeeper Akbar was a picture of disbelief as the Indians celebrated wildly. Prabhjot ran and hugged Brasa, who was standing on the sidelines.

Defence was supposed to be India’s Achilles’ heel, but Dhanajay Mahadik, Gurbaj Singh and Bharat Chikara — all midfielders — played the role given them by the thinktank to perfection. What Sandeep lacked as a full-back was compensated for beautifully by the trio.

Chikara, in particular, kept Rehan Butt under check, giving no leeway to the dangerous striker. Pakistan earned four penalty corners, but the man they were banking upon was not in the best of form.
Abbas’ first two shots hit the goalpost, while the third went wide. That the veteran drag-flicker managed to score Pakistan’s lone goal was no consolation.

Sandeep completed his brace when he converted another penalty corner in the dying minutes to complete the Indian rout.

If the margin of victory is any indication, this team have it in them to spring a few more surprises in the quadrennial event, where they meet Australia next.

Harpreet Kaur Lamba