India thrashes Scotland 7-1

HOBART, OCT. 11. Spurred on by four brilliant strikes from vice- captain Deepak Thakur, India destroyed Scotland 7-1 to cruise into the second round of the 7th junior World Cup hockey here at the Tasmania hockey centre today.

After beating Canada 5-0, in its first match, this was India's second consecutive big win in Pool C.

Deepak Thakur, a member of the 2000 Sydney Olympics team, was in crushing form hardly missing any opportunity as he became the main scourge of the Scottish defence. All four goals from Thakur's blade were field efforts.

The other scorers for India were Prabhjot Singh, Tejbir Singh and Kanwal Preet Singh.

Right from the start it was apparent that India was not in a relaxed mood. Coach Rajinder was right in saying that with more goals, the morale of the team would be sky-rocketing and after the win the boys laughed and patted each other, enjoying what was a fine victory.

The top two teams from each pool enter the second round. India now plays Spain tomorrow, the winner topping the pool and getting to play a second placed team from another pool.

India started strongly forcing a penalty corner in the fifth minute but the effort was wasted. Five minutes later, Prabhjot Singh, lurking on top of the circle, got a beautiful pass from the midfield and shot home beautifully.

Scotland then held the Indians away for almost ten minutes, pulling players back and denying space in the circle.

Skipper Gagan Ajit Singh had a few tries but was cut off as he constantly got hemmed by three defenders.

India scored its second goal in the 23rd minute when Deepak Thakur trapped a powerful shot in the circle, turned and with a reverse flick sent the ball flying into the net.

Five minutes later it was Tejbir Singh, off India's third penalty corner, flicking past a outstretched Scottish goalkeeper.

With around four minutes left for the break, Scotland surprised with a break-away move and the Indians conceded a penalty stroke for body check. Niall Scot scooped to the right as goalkeeper Devesh Chauhan moved the wrong away.

At the break, India led 3-1. Five minutes after resumption, India earned a penalty stroke as a Scottish defender blocked a goal bound ball with his body.

Kanwal Preet Singh's scoop deflected off the goalkeeper and went in for India's fourth goal.

India almost scored off a penalty corner in the 50th minute but Jugraj's bullet like flick was saved by the 'keeper.

In the next minute, a free move down the left flank saw Prabhjot speeding away and his shot into the circle was deflected superbly by an acrobatic Deepak who stretched full length to sound the boards.

Bimal Lakra, who had a good match, set up India's sixth goal and Deepak's third goal of the match. Running in from the midfield, he went past two defenders and fed Deepak who finished in a flourish.

With two minutes to go for the hooter, Deepak Thakur again showed his class as he set off on a run entered the circle and flicked cleanly to score his fourth and India's seventh of the match.

The soft spoken coach, Rajinder Singh, was happy with the performance but now his priority is the match against Spain.

``That will be tough and the boys will have to conserve their energy. I will have a meeting in the evening where we will discuss the performance against Scotland and analyse the mistakes and also talk on the match with Spain.''

``I am happy that boys are doing their best to put in to practice whatever we are planning in the team meeting.

``I hope they keep doing this in the next matches as the competition would get tougher in the second round.''

In the other matches, of the day, Spain beat Canada 6- 1 and Germany won a close encounter against New Zealand 2-1.

Malaysia was again shocked at the hands of Argentina crashing to a 0-5 defeat while France held South Korea to a 1-1 draw.

- PTI

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