The Hindu : India capitulates to Korea

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Sep 07, 2002

Sport

Sport - Hockey

India capitulates to Korea

By S. Thyagarajan

Australian captain Paul Gaudoin (R) walks past Pakistani players who are celebrating after taking a 1-0 lead in the match at the Champions Trophy tournament in Cologne on Friday.

Pakistan 2 -- Australia 0

Holland 5 -- Germany 2

Korea 4-- India 2

Cologne Sept. 6. Insipid and uninspiring for no reason, India capitulated to Korea for its second reverse to complete the league part of the Champions Trophy men's hockey competition at Rot Weiss on Friday evening.

The outcome has not altered India's third place on the table, and it will take on Pakistan again on Sunday to decide the bronze medal.

Korea and Pakistan finished with six points each but better goal difference pushed up the latter by one slot.

From the start, nothing seemed to be rolling well for the Indians. If anything, the Koreans enjoyed the territorial advantage almost throughout the first half and led 2-0 at half-time. Forcing five penalty corners, they struck through Shin Seok Kyo. An infringement by Kanwalpreet Singh on the goal-mouth in a penalty corner sequence brought in a stroke which Jeon Jong Ja converted.

Just as one thought that India was heading for a drubbing, Dhanraj scored a superb goal picking up a pass from Gagan Ajit Singh. There were a few neat probings from the Indian frontline but the Korean defence held on gamely. And what more, enlarged the lead through Hwang Jang Hyun in a follow up of the penalty corner.

It was Korea again on the attack and Kim Kyung Seok further widened the margin. In the final minute, Gagan Ajit Singh netted a beautiful goal to restrict the margin.

Dutch end Germans' run

Surging into its top form in the last quarter, the Netherlands, the Olympic champion, slithered to the top spot in the table with a tally of 13 points by defeating Germany before a larger gathering this afternoon. Germany completed the programme with 12 points.

What an embarrassment for Germany that had an enchanting run in the last Champions Trophy at Rotterdam. Germany had won all the six matches then, and continued the flow with four successive wins here until the Netherlands, playing its match todate, overwhelmed the home team.

This, however, does not alter the equation for Sunday's final, which will again be between the two European giants.

It remains to be seen what configuration the German coach, Bernard Peters, would come up with to meet rival Joost Belaart's strategies.

At no point in the first half, when the teams shared two goals, nor after Germany had moved up shortly after the break, was there anything to suggest such a disaster.

But Dutch, attacking consistently punched holes in the German defence to emerge a worthy winner.

When the Dutch took the lead through Piet Gerris, it was in keeping with the trend.

The frontline, using the skill of Teun de Nooijer, worked well, pressuring the German defence. Only late in the first half could Germany restore parity, through Bjorn Emmerling off a Bjorn Michel's push in a penalty corner.

A wristy flick by Florian Kunz from a penalty corner within minutes after resumption kept the Germans on their toes.

But a stroke nullified the advantage. Nooijer was obstructed by goalkeeper Arnold, and Bram Lomans converted with a hint of fuss.

The tussle intensified and a speck of rough play erupted. Bjorn Emmerling was shown the yellow card for bizarre tackle on Teun di Nooijer.

The Dutch demolition followed and three goals surfaced.

Taeke Taekema hit in a penalty corner, followed by a brilliant chip by Maarten Froger and Ronald Brouwer completed the humiliation for the home team.

Aussies fumble yet again

On an afternoon that resembled an Indian summer, the agony for the Aussies continued.

Pointless out of all the five games, they must be wondering what had gone wrong. While the Aussies struggled to put their best foot forward, Pakistan snatched full points for its second victory in the Champions Trophy men's hockey competition at Rot-Weiss today.

It is difficult to recall a time when the Australians have lost all the five games. Actually, they were as inept as the score-lines would suggest.

Though the Aussies demonstrated the spirit and skill to keep the opposition at bay they were woefully inadequate at the finish, and most of all, in taking the penalty corners.

For Pakistan, the outcome should come as a relief after the defeat against India in the last match.

For the major part, nothing was going right for the Pakistanis who were at the receiving end from the Aussie attack led admirably by Nathan Eglington on the wing and Mike McCann from the middle.

What however, turned the trend in favour of Pakistan was the perfect penalty corner by Sohail Abbas midway in the first half.

Buoyed by the turn of events, Pakistan pressed hard but could not improve the margin till late in the second half when Mudassar Ali Khan swerved from the left to find the target.

Having ensured a place in the next Champions Trophy, the venue of which will be announced on Sunday, the Indians were rather slack in the match against the Koreans who will play the Australians for the fifth and sixth positions on Sunday.

Table of Points (P,W, D, L, GF, GA, Pts): Holland: 5, 4, 1,0, 21, 9, 13; Germany: 5, 4,-, 1, 13, 12, 12; India: 5, 2, 1, 2, 13, 14, 7; Pakistan: 5, 2, 0, 3, 11, 10, 6; Korea: 5, 2, 0, 3, 11, 14, 3; Australia: 5, 0, 0, 5, 7, 17, 0.

Tomorrow is a rest day.

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