Pillay scripts an Indian title win

India 3 Germany 2

Australia 3 South Africa 1

By S. Thyagarajan

PERTH, APRIL 16. This is the moment that India waited for in the Olympic year. And that glorious hour dawned here on a warm sunny afternoon when Dhanraj Pillay, exhibiting that aesthetic touch, pitched in the match winner in the last minute to script a triumph worthy of memory, in the four-nation pre-Olympic hockey tournament here. The margin and the time of the winning-goal clearly mirror the pulsating nature of the contest.

The atmosphere at the Curtin University campus was carnival-like. There were skydivers and drum-beaters accentuating the mood of gaiety. And what an intense battle it proved to be with veteran Dhanraj Pillay playing the stellar role, netting two goals with all the flourish and finesse for which he is known. Not after the 1995 Aslan Shah tournament has India accomplished anything significant in competitive hockey, especially outside the sub- continent.

Significantly, all the three teams which India defeated in this leg are continental champions - Oceania (Australia), Europe (Germany) and Africa (South Africa) - automatic qualifiers to the Olympics.

It was an intense contest, against a no mean opponent, coached by the world famous academician, Paul Lissek. The Indians were near perfect in the defence. The credit for the victory should equally go to full back Dilip Tirkey, who was confidence personified, and goal-keeper, Jude Menezes.

The happy position in which India today found itself was largely due to the excellent improvement in its defence, particularly in the area of goal-keeping, where Jude Menezes is as a good as any now in contemporary hockey. The number of saves he effected, notwithstanding the two that slipped past, confirmed his graduation to the higher echelons.

Predictably, the approach was circumspect. The Germans had more possession of the ball, wove a few fluent sorties down the line through Christoph Bechmann and Bjorn Michel supported from the middle by Christian Mayerhofer. In fact, the first attacking sortie came from Bjorn Michel, whose withering shot from the top of the circle was stopped neatly by Jude Menezes.

The Indian defence, where, apart from Dilip Tirkey, Ramandeep, Gill, Thirumal and Riaz were prominent, held on firmly. But its attack was not getting into the rhythm easily. Deepak Thakur struggled to work on the moves, and even Dhanraj Pillay fumbled a bit, not being able to cap the manoeuvres he so skilfully charted out.

Midway through the first half, Germany found the target. Bjorn Emmerling moved down the line and executed a powerful hit. Jude Menezes padded, but the ball trickled. Dinesh Nayak, who got the ball, dribbled needlessly to lose possession. Matthias Witthaus produced a stunner of a back-hander that gave no chance to Jude Menezes. Immediately, there was an attempt by Tibor Weinbenborn but Jude Menezes blocked it.

Dhanraj frittered away a sitter after moving delectably well with Samir Dad, raising doubts whether India could fight back. The German goal-keeper, Christopher Reitz, was out of his charge when Dhanraj barged in, but the Indian striker failed to angle the shot well and it hit the post. Dhanraj threw the stick away in desperation. But minutes later, he atoned for his mistake after a brilliant workout with Senthil, who trapped the ball neatly from Philip Crone and constructed the counter attack.

Tirkey puts India ahead

On level at half-time, the battle resumed with India enjoying the edge in exchanges. More than once, Dhanraj and Dhillon wove their way into the circle but without success. Baskaran's move to engage both Deepak and Gagan did not pay off. In fact, Gagan missed an easy chance after Samir and Dhanraj had worked up a beautiful move. However, it was Dilip Tirkey, with a splendid carpet drive out of the first and the only penalty corner that India earned, put the team ahead.

The Germans pressured for the equaliser but Jude Menezes held out, effecting another good save of Bjorn Michel. The Germans at that point had three penalty corners. But two minutes from end, Bjorn Michel, making capital out of the confusion in the Indian attack, scored the equaliser. Only two minutes remained then from the hooter.

However, within a minute the dream came true. Again Samir and Dhanraj went on a splendid combined run. Dhanraj wove a ring round the defence and flicked the ball in amidst spontaneous cheers.

Understandably, coach Baskaran was elated as were the officials in the team. ``This win means our Olympic campaign is now well on track. When we came here for the two tournaments my aim was to win one of them. I am happy that we have managed that. This will be morale booster for the boys when they go back to resume their pre-Sydney preparations,'' Baskaran said.

``I told the boys before the game, we were going to win this match as I felt there was fire in the team,'' the coach added.

All said and done, Baskaran is quite a relieved man, and admitted that the pressure was off him now, and he had endured a lot of criticism from the media.

Paul Lissek agreed that he had no complaints and admitted that India played better hockey and therefore won.

Aussie youngsters to the fore

There were pleasing moments for Australia eclipsing the mood of despair over the team not scoring enough number of goals in proportion to dominance in the rival area. Terry Walsh must have been buoyed up by the manner in which the penalty corner exercises were performed after the frontline found the South African goal-keeper Brian Myburgh not easy to beat on the run. More importantly, what should be projected as striking was the scoring today coming from two youngsters, Craig Victory and Lachlan Vivian-Taylor, in a similar set piece, that flummoxed Myburgh.

Earlier, the rangy South African custodian effected neat saves from Stephen Davies and even in a penalty corner from Troy Elder. But midway through Elder provided the opening for Craig Victory to slot the lead and close on half time Australia enhanced the score-line through Lachlan Vivian-Taylor.

Palpably, the Aussie attack was more methodical. Craig Victory on the wing was pacy and well supported by Stephen Davies, with the mid-field of Paul Gaudoin, Brent Livermore and Daniel Sproule giving the attack all it wanted - quick passes and openings. Troy Elder played a more constructive role than even the seasoned campaigner, Jay Stacy, putting ahead defence splitting paces. He even ventured to make a few shots, one he almost failed to connect after falling full length to a cross from Adam Commens was stunning. Mathew Wells had a fierce shot which Myburgh saved but Troy Elder created another nice slot for Craig Victory to his second and the team's third.

The South Africans too had their moments of ascendancy. At least one shot by Emile Smith early in the match almost shocked goal- keeper Mark Hickman. Another attempt by Mark Cullen and Nicol was also thwarted in the nick of the moment. In terms of pressure, the South Africans exerted more in the second half, forcing four penalty corners at one point midway through. The Aussie defence managed to smother it with confidence. Only in late stage of the match was there some loose play which helped South Africa to constrict the margin. The effort was a spectacular one by Brenton Key who hit the ball in a flash after accepting the pass from Greg Nicol.

The tie was the 100th cap for Craig Fulton of South Africa.

The teams:

India: Jude Menezes, Dilip Tirkey, Dinesh Nayak, Ramandeep Singh (capt), Mohammad Riaz, Thirumalvalavan, Sukhbir Singh Gill, Jagan Senthil, Dhanraj Pillay, Deepak Thakur, Baljit Singh Dhillon, Gagan Ajit Singh, Samir Dad, Anwar Khan, Daljit Singh and Devesh Chuhan.

Germany: Christopher Reitz, Clemens Arnold, Philip Crone, Eike Duckwitz, Christian Wein, Bjorn Michel, Sascha Reinelt, Oliver Domke, Bjorn Emmerling, Christoph Bechmann, Micheal Green, Tibor Weibenborn, Florian Kunz, Christian Mayerhofer (capt), Christoph Eimer and Mattaus Wittaus.

Umpires: Grime Murray (Australia) and Tim Pullman (Australia).

Final placings: 1. India, 2. Germany, 3. Australia, 4. South Africa.

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