Belgium puts it across Canada

Belgium 1 Canada 0 Argentina 4 Poland 1 Spain 1 Canada 1 Scotland 3 Russia 0 Poland 0 Japan 0

By S. Thyagarajan

EDINBURGH, JULY 23. In what can be construed as constituting an upset, or a result not wholly predicted, Belgium picked up full points against the more seasoned Canada in Pool E of the World Cup hockey qualifier here at the Sports Centre, Peffermill.

It would be uncharitable to deny the full measure of credit to the Belgians who strove manfully for the outcome with all the resources at their command.

Belgium is well ensconced to take a place in the top seven based on the verdict. After having shared two goals against New Zealand on Sunday and taking a point, Belgium has now taken its tally to four with a match against Spain remaining. Interestingly, Belgium is on top of Pool E with the rest having a point each.

For a combination that had an indirect entry into the last eight when Bangladesh contained France in the earlier part of the league, the outcome today was a definite boost to the morale.

The contest as such did not rise above mediocrity, but the Belgians showed more gumption and had a better game plan to prevail over the Canadians, whose approach was somewhat uncharacteristic of a squad trained not long ago by the theoretician coach, Shiraz Virji.

Notwithstanding the absence of their linkman, van den Balck, serving a red card suspension after the clash with Hari Bevan of New Zealand on Sunday, the Belgians fashioned their forays mainly on the thrust provided by Vitali Kholopov, a former player of Belarussia, now a naturalised Belgian. This gangling winger made repeated inroads into the rival area, despite the splendid guard provided to the zone by the seasoned Bhindi Khuller. The Belgians also attacked through Jean Willems and Alexandre de Chaffoy. Despite the pressure on the Canadian defence at no point did it appear loose or unsure.

Goal-keeper Mike Mahoot stood like a solid bastion. He brought off a brilliant save off Jean Willems, followed it up with another block from a penalty corner shot by Joeri Beunnen and saved a flick in the nick of time from Vitali Kholopov.

When the teams crossed over with the score-board blank, everything looked appropriate. In fact, the Canadians were slowly finding their range and rhythm thanks to some good work on the flank by Ken Pereira,in the mid-field by Robin D'Abero and in the deep by Bindi Khuller and Ravi Kalhon.

Immediately after the break, Belgium struck through Patrick Gierts, who made excellent use of the work by Vitali Kholopov. Touched to the quick by the reverse, the Canadians injected a lot more verve into their workouts. The exchanges became crisper and there was an element of urgency, with Belgium doing everything to defend the lead and the Canadians going all out in quest of the equaliser. There were specks of rough play, and two Belgians, Alexandre de Chaffoy and Patrick Gierts were given marching orders.

The Canadians were unrelenting and kept up steady pressure on the Belgian defence. A good try by Casey Ferguson was smartly smothered by the Belgian goal-keeper, Vincent Deneumostier. Close on time another shot by Sean Campbell off a penalty corner was stopped by Vincent and cleared delectably by Thirry Reaner. The Belgian strategy at this point was to hang on to the lead and managed it successfully despite a penalty corner taken at the end of the regulation time. Even as the fierce drive by Sean Campbell was stopped nonchalantly by Vincent, the players on the Belgian bench jumped for joy and rushed to congratulate their team-mates for what can turn out to be a significant victory in more than one sense.

Lombi on the rampage again

Quite predictably, it was an action packed match in Pool F where Argentina, once again led by the immaculate scoring machine Jorge Lombi, overpowered Poland by their sheer velocity, after trailing 0-1 in the first quarter. Lombi scored three of the four goals for Argentina.

After a promising start in the first half in which Poland struck through Zbigniew Juszczak, the Poles were clueless against the consistent attack of the Argentine frontline, led on the right by Rodrigo Vila and on the left by Mario Almada.

The Argentines soon closed the gap and minutes from half-time restored parity through Lombi's penalty corner.

Dominating the second half, Argentina netted three goals, two by Lombi. A splendid left flank sally culminated in Mario Almada posting the lead.

Leaving nothing to chance and gaining in confidence, Argentina speeded up the attack. When Tomasz Szmidt stickchecked Rodrigo Vilas inside the circle midway through umpire Hamish Jamson showed the spot for a stroke. And Lombi made no mistake with the award.

Succumbing to the pressure, the Poles conceded one more penalty corner, and, sure enough, Lombi piloted the ball to the roof of the net to score his 13th goal in five matches.

Lombi's proficiency in penalty corners is well known but the Argentine is now becoming a legend in the game.

With two wins in as many matches, Argentina leads Pool F with six points, followed by Japan with one point. Poland with a solitary point in two matches is above India with no points from one match.

Canada holds Spain

The favourite for the top spot, Spain began its campaign in Pool E in stage two sharing points with Canada which came back into the match during the last three minutes on Sunday. The first session produced a blank score- board, but after the resumption the Spaniards had to strive hard to beat the Canadian defence.

And when they did that, the match had already consumed 53 minutes. Xavier Arnau scored for Spain but Paul Wettalauffer obtained the equaliser when only three minutes remained.

In Pool F, where India is fighting for a place, Poland and Japan gained a point each from their game. India has to play both Poland and Japan in the coming days.

It is clarified that the top two teams in Pool E and F will fight for the semifinals while the next two in the pools will figure for the places between 5-8. This means that the semifinalists and three of the next four teams will eventually make the seven for the World Cup at Kuala Lumpur.

Tuesday's matches: New Zealand v Spain (3-30 p.m.); Egypt v Chile (5-30 p.m.); Wales v Scotland (7-30 p.m.); India v Japan (9-30 p.m.).

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