Australia complete 5-2 rout of India

Shashank Shekhar

NEW DELHI: Long after India had learnt yet another bitter hockey lesson from world champions Australia, what kept resonating in the mind were Aussie coach Ric Charlesworth’s words: “You need to be brave to win matches. If you’re under pressure, you can still win by defending and counter-attacking. India were lacking there,” he said after the Group A men’s hockey match which the hosts lost 2-5.

It was a telling comment from a man who, ironically, was India’s coach/consultant not too long ago. Indeed, as history repeated itself in less than eight months at the National Stadium – Australia had beaten India by the same margin at the 2010 World Cup in March at the same venue – the sense of deja vu was overwhelming.

Thursday’s match could be divided into three distinct parts – the first 10 minutes when Australia went 2-0 up; the rest of the first half when India, to the great surprise and joy of a packed house, completely dominated and got a goal back; and the second half which was totally owned by the Aussies with the Indian machine stuttering as if there was little gas left in the tank.

Aussies pumped in three goals in the second half to make sure their status as the best team on the planet was not dented at all. Sandeep Singh’s penalty-corner conversion which completed the scoreline in the dying moments was not even a consolation.

As midfielder Bharat Chikara later affirmed, India lost it in the first few minutes. Dhanajay Mahadik’s howler when he gave the ball away at the top of the ‘D’ allowed Des Abbott to open the scoring which was followed by Trent Mitton getting space on the right, netting the ball with a crisp hit (2-0).

What followed was a spectacular display of attacking hockey by India, one which raised visions of a great resurgence. Even the mighty Aussies didn’t know what had hit them as attacks came in waves from both flanks. A brilliant goal in the 13th minute by the young Dharamvir Singh, who latched on to a pass from Tushar Khandkar before hitting home with a stunning reverse strike, gave India further impetus.

The hosts, however, failed to add to the tally during this dizzying spell, wasting a number of chances including five penalty corners. That proved crucial. “If the score was 2-2 at half-time, we would’ve been more positive in the second half,” felt defender Prabodh Tirkey. As it transpired, the second session saw a listless India bowing to the supremely fit Australia. Their first-half brilliance will remain in memory, but so will be the denouement of the score-sheet. Earlier in a Group B tie, Canada held England 1-1.

Scores: Australia 5 (Des Abbott 2nd, Trent Mitton 6th, Eddie Ockenden 46th, Liam de Young 55th,Turner 57th) beat India 2 ( Dharamvir Singh 13th, Sandeep Singh 70th).