Date:18/02/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/02/18/stories/2006021807521800.htm

Sport

Pakistan makes a winning start

Kamesh Srinivasan

Tushar Khandekar hammers face-saving goal

CHANDIGARH: Pakistan opened its campaign on a bright note as it beat India 2-1 in the first Test match of the hockey series at the Sector-42 Stadium here on Friday evening.

It was Pakistan that shone brightly under the floodlights with its purposeful game in front of a near capacity crowd for the better part of the contest before Tushar Khandekar hammered a face-saving goal from the left, as he capitalised on a smart pass from Arjun Halappa.

With just about five minutes left on the clock, there was nothing much that a rejuvenated Indian team could do against a well-organised rival unit, that paced itself quite beautifully right from the start.

Like the better part of the crowd that arrived late, not realising that the match was rescheduled to start 30 minutes before the original time, the Indian team led by Ignace Tirkey, who hardly got to play his role in the midfield this day, failed to get going early on.

After a few stray attacks on either side, it was Tariq Aziz who sounded the board from just inside the circle with a snap shot, before telling a silent prayer. Pakistan really got off the blocks nicely with that effort in the 14th minute.

Shows urgency

The Indian team did show the required urgency after conceding the initiative, but there was no cohesion in the moves, though Didar Singh and Sardara Singh made their presence felt up front.

India did force two of its three penalty corners in the first half, but the attempts were not good enough to fetch a goal.

With Sandeep Singh sitting out after 14 minutes in the first half, Didar tried his hand at conversion, but his drag was ably deflected away by the goalkeeper.

Kanwapreet Singh shot wide off the second penalty corner.

Later, Didar's indirect attempt fizzled out.

Of course, Pakistan was equally inefficient in the penalty corner department following two attempts by Imran Warsi in the dying minutes of the first half, but it was sitting comfortably on a goal.

In the second half, Pakistan was unable to convert two more penalty corners through Mohammed Imran, as the Indian defence stood firm.

However, Pakistan virtually sealed victory in the 21st minute of the second half, as Shakeel Abbasi pounced on a deflection to crack one home, off the team's fifth penalty corner.

The disappointed crowd started melting, but those who stayed back, albeit with faint hope, were treated to that spectacular goal by Tushar Khandekar.

It was easily the better team that won this day, but the Indian team showed glimpses of its ability to warn that it was capable of posing a serious threat in the five matches ahead, the second of which would be played at the same venue on Saturday.