The Hindu : Sport / Hockey : D'Souza is India's hero

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 28, 2004

Sport

Sport - Hockey

D'Souza is India's hero

KARACHI, APRIL 27. Arch-rivals India and Pakistan set up a final clash after both registered contrasting wins in the semifinals of the fifth junior Asia Cup hockey tournament here on Tuesday.

While Pakistanis were emphatic in their 5-2 defeat of Malaysia, Indians had a hard time beating South Korea 4-3 in the second semifinal that was decided on penalty strokes.

The final, which is set for Thursday, will be the first clash between the traditional rivals on Pakistani soil in five years. With the victories, both India and Pakistan secured berths in next year's junior World Cup to be played in Amstelveen, Netherlands.

India, reigning world junior champion, owed the win to its goalkeeper Adrian D'Souza who saved two penalty strokes after the energy-sapping match was goalless in the regulation 70 minutes and in the two extra sessions lasting another 15 minutes. Both teams matched each other's talents but lacked finishing, resulting in spoiling of several chances in the first two halves.

D'Souza, however, took India to the final by stopping the fourth and fifth penalty strokes from Yong Cheol Shin and Jong Hyun Jang. India had lagged behind after its penalty corner expert Sandeep Singh, tournament's top scorer with 14 goals, missed the third penalty stroke but D'Souza saved India in the end with two brilliant saves.

Korea will play Malaysia for third-fourth spot. The winner of the match would also qualify to play in the World Cup.

In the first semifinal, home team's penalty corner expert Imran Warsi scored twice to take his tally to eleven goals but Pakistan had to wait until the 61st minute to take a decisive two-goal lead as Malaysia threatened to come on level terms with some spirited play.

Malaysia stunned the host with a fifth minute field goal when Ismail Abu took full advantage of a sloppy Pakistan defence. Pakistan had to wait until the 22nd minute for the equaliser as Warsi struck from team's second penalty corner.

Both teams were locked at 1-1 after the first half but Pakistan took the lead in the 37th minute when Mahmood Ali scored from a right side move and six minutes later Warsi doubled the lead through a brilliant scoop off the short corner.

Abdul Jalil pulled one back for Malaysia in the 49th minute. However, Yasir Islam (61) and Kashif Yaqoob (68th) scored two more goals to seal the fate in Pakistan's favour.

In other classification matches for fifth to eighth places, Japan beat China 3-2 through a golden goal after both teams were locked at 2-2 in the regulation time.

Bangladesh beat Singapore 3-0 to set a match with Japan for the fifth and sixth spot tomorrow — PTI

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport