The Hindu : India finds a new star in Sandeep Michael

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jun 06, 2003

Sport

Sport - Hockey

India finds a new star in Sandeep Michael

By S. Thyagarajan

Indian players celebrate one of their four goals against Australia `A' during their league match in the tri-nation tournament in Sydney on Thursday. India won 4-3. — AFP

Australia 4 - Pakistan 3

India 4 - Australia `A' 3

Sydney June 5. An inspired performance that in patches was reminiscent of those balmy days of Shahbaz Ahmed was, however, insufficient to take Pakistan to victory against Australia in the men's champions challenge here at the Sydney International Stadium. While the margin tells its own story what it unsentimentally masks is the fact how Pakistan regained the initiative from a 1-2 deficit at halftime to lead 3-2 midway in the second half before capitulating to the power and athleticism of the Aussies at the end of the day.

Later, India, resting Dhanraj Pillay, Baljit Saini, Devesh Chauhan and Gagan Ajit Singh, produced a scintillating performance to overwhelm Australia `A', 4-3, in which Sandeep Michael punched in two goals, each a beauty, underlining his efficiency.

Australia was yearning for a win against Pakistan after that 3-3 draw against India at Wollongong on Wednesday to ensure a place in Sunday's final. And the man who really provided those glorious moments for the Aussies was Jaime Dwyer whose hat-trick underlined the individual competence of this gallant warrior. At least two of the three goals that Jaime picked up could merit the description as spectacular.

Overall, it was a satisfying day for Australia, barring those torrid moments shortly after the break when Pakistan really asserted itself. But for the fracas between Jaime Dwyer and Ghazanfar Ali when Australia was leading 4-3, about 11 minutes before the hooter, it was a pulsating contest. That the frayed tempers did not spill over into a bigger conflict involving other players and officials was a blessing indeed. Both Barry Dancer and Sheikh Shahnaz were on the ground and talking to each other but everything quietened down when the Aussie player was substituted.

An early goal by Ben Taylor off a well-combined workout involving McCann and Adam Commens gave the Aussies the base to dominate. Andrew Smith on the flank supported exceedingly well by the hardworking Adam Commens and Adam Hopkins exerted enough pressure on the defence. Michael McCann and Jaime Dwyer repeatedly injected an element of tension into the Pakistani defence.

Progressively, Pakistan picked up the threads and when Shabbir Hussain produced the equaliser the match suddenly shifted itself into top gear. A sinuous run down the line by Lian de Young spelt trouble for Pakistan and so it proved when McCann crossed the ball to Jaime Dwyer to hit in the first of his three. Mudassar Khan and then twice Shakeel Abbasi failed to make good the openings by Saqlain and Rehan Batt. And the teams changed ends at 2-1 in favour of Australia.

For a spell after the break, the Pakistanis were brilliant, giving the Aussie defence a horrendous time. Shakeel Abbasi and Mudassar Khan wove in repeatedly causing alarm bells to the rival defence which was in palpable disarray.

Mudassar Khan procured the equaliser from a pass by Shakeel Abbasi. And what more, Pakistan, which forced three penalty corners in a space of 12 minutes, surged into the lead when Shakeel Abassi produced a stunner of a rebound after Ghanzafar Ali's hit bounced off goal-keeper Stephen Lambert's pads.

Visions of Pakistan conquering the Aussie lion in its own den were not misplaced until Jaime Dwyer demolished such a line of thinking. A neat bout of passing with Craig Victory culminated in Dwyer smashing the ball into the roof of the net.

The Aussies hit the match winner four minutes later, again Jaime Dwyer taking credit for it from a pass by Troy Elder.

That spot of rough play however, upset the atmosphere and left a bitter taste in the mouth. Australia could have added a goal more if Craig Victory had deflected the ball, which he trapped in front of the goalmouth. Australia had four penalty corners, three in the first half, while Pakistan obtained all its three in the second half.

New-look team

India's new look combination turned out to be an interesting experiment against Australia 'A'. The coaches must have been pleasantly surprised by the skills exhibited by Prabhodh Tirkey, and most of all, by Sandeep Michael. The equaliser that this energetic Karantaka star secured was a beauty to behold as did the match winner in the second half. Picking up the ball near the sidelines, he sidestepped three defenders and scored from a zero angle as it were, raising vociferous approbation from all round. And when India was pushing itself Sandeep Michael came up with another superb effort, deflecting a cross from Tejbir Singh.

Earlier, Dilip Tirkey produced an immaculate penalty corner shot for reaching level at 1-1. Goalkeeper Kamalpreet Singh effected a few splendid saves before allowing Tristrom Woodhouse to exploit the gap. And Grant Schubert slotted the second from a scrimmage.

Shortly after the break, India went into the lead through a lovely effort by Prabhjot Singh who steered a long free hit by Bimal Lakra into the boards. Despite the pressure exerted on, the Indian defenders, notably Vikram Pillay and Viren Resquinha stood well to smother it. Even after Tirstrom Woodhouse scored the equaliser (3-3), the Indians held their goal gamely thanks to some fine saves by Kamalpreet Singh.

Looking back on the verdict, although it was not part of the tournament, one cannot but feel elated at the growing depth of junior talent waiting to be encouraged and nourished. Sandeep Michael made an emphatic claim to be brought into greater focus in the subsequent games and tours, a pointer that Rajinder Singh cannot afford to brush aside.

Friday is a rest day.

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