Friday, May 31, 2002
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Hockey
By S. Thyagarajan
Korea 2 Malaysia 0 Australia 4 India 0
Earlier, the Koreans prevailed over Malaysia by two goals to nil. There has never been a dull moment in competitive hockey when India and Australia clashed on the field. And so it was tonight as the Indian defence battled gallantly to smother the pressure put on it by the Aussie attack, superbly led by the enterprising Craig Victory. Not only did the defence, the mid-field in particular, distinguish itself, but goal-keeper Devesh Chauhan held on gamely whenever the goal was threatened. The save he effected late in the first half from a penalty corner hit by Andrew Smith was a beauty. Some of his saves in the second half too were commendable, though such a statement against the margin the second half would appear exaggerated. Skipper Dilip Tirkey led the defence with admirable aplomb, setting an example for the rest in the matter of trapping and clearing. Supported well by Dinesh Nayak, the young mid-field was striking, what with Ignace Tirkey, at left half, being the cynosure. Bimal Lakra as the pivot played with circumspection as much as Vikram Pillay did. On the right Sukhbir Singh Gill was prominent, effecting a many a good interception, while Ignace Tirkey followed the dangerous Craig Victory like a shadow. The frontline hardly matched the good work of the defence and that precisely went against the team in the end. Chances were created no doubt but none of them showed the punch to pick up a pass and score. Daljit Singh Dhillon put in some hard work, but the trio of Gagan Ajit Singh, Prabhjot Singh and Deepak Thakur failed to anything to enhance their stature. Neither side had scored in the first half and an absorbing fare was keenly anticipated. But the Aussies snuffed out such a line of thinking with a bltizekrieg in the second half, the last effort coming one minute from the end. Precise, pacy and pugnacious, the Aussies, using the flanks and the long drives, overwhelmed the Indians. A lapse on the right gave Mathew Smith the opening and McCann tapped his splendid reverse pass in. Minutes later, Craig victory scored a spectacular goal, giving the finishing touches to a long clearance and not long after came the third from Jeremy Hiskins from a penalty corner. It must be said to the credit of the Indians that they did not give up the fight till the last minutes. In the closing minutes, they did exert some pressure but goal-keeper Stephen Lambert was in splendid form. The save he effected off a drive by Dilip Tirkey from a penalty corner was a classic effort. Deepak and Daljit came up with one good combined effort, which also was thwarted by Lambert. In the final minute, Robert Hammand stuck the fourth goal with a neat flick to hoist a win, which did not seem as bright or even possible at the end of the first half. Insipid for the major part and showing no touch of the ingenuity, which brought them to the threshold of a gold medal in the Sydney Olympics, the Koreams made a rather sedate start against the equally lacklustre Malaysians in the opening game. Actually, the Malaysians looked like carrying the battle right into the Korean zone. With Kuhen directing the forces from the mid-field, assisted well by Gopinathan, the Malaysians troubled the Korean defenders till the first quarter. Two penalty corners in quick succession heightened the tension at the Korean end, but Malaysia failed to consolidate the zone advantage, which seemed clear at that point. A snap goal by the skipper Keon Wook Kang shattered the confidence of the Malaysian defence. Kang deflected a pass from Yeo Woon Kon, who converted a penalty corner to enlarge the margin midway in the first half. In the second half again, the Malaysians held the initiative with the young Mohammad nor making repeated inroads into the rival area. Goalkeeper Jong Kim Yong spoilt at least well-rehearsed attempts by the Malaysians. Tomorrow is a rest day.
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