Date:19/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/19/stories/2008051954461800.htm

Sport

Almada sets up Argentina’s triumph

Sandeep Singh finishes tournament’s top-scorer with nine goals

— PHOTO: AFP

MIDFIELD ACTION: India’s Diwakar Ram and Sardara Singh (right) challenge Argentina’s Rodrigo Luis Saliva (centre) on Sunday.

Ipoh (Malaysia): Mario Almada struck the winner as a spirited India suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat to Argentina in the final of the Azlan Shah hockey tournament here on Sunday.

Sandeep Singh’s 10th minute penalty corner conversion put India ahead in the title clash, but veteran Almada led Argentina’s fightback scoring a brace (14th, 73rd) to help his side clinch the championship.

India will take the silver medal with pride as it showcased a brilliant turnaround in the tournament and won four matches in a row after two defeats to book a berth in the final after a huge gap of 12 years.

The title clash had all the components of a final match as the keenly-contested and ill-tempered encounter went down to the wire before being decided through Almada’s golden goal in the extra-time.

From the beginning, both of Argentina’s wingers worked overtime to the Indian defenders some jittery moments. But Diwakar Ram and Sandeep Singh warded off the initial inroads and goalkeeper Adrian D’Souza came out with some scintillating saves to deny Argentina the early advantage.

In the fourth minute, when umpire Ged Curran of Scotland awarded a penalty corner to Argentina after D’Souza had made a diving ground clearance, the enraged Indians advanced menacingly towards him. Durran talked to his colleague Amarjit Singh, but eventually stuck to his decision.

Ignacio Gilardi took the shot, but D’Souza saved it.

Shivendra Singh and S.V. Sunil staged a counterattack in the 10th minute and when they were brought down near the circle, Amrajit signalled India’s first penalty corner. Sandeep Singh put it across Argentinian goalkeeper and captain Manuel Vivaldi — his ninth goal of the tournament — to open the account for India.

Four minutes later, the hard working right winger Tomas Argento sent in a cross and veteran Mario Almada netted the equaliser. A few minutes before the break, Argentina came close to taking the lead when defender Gilardi’s free hit was tapped by Facundo, but the Indian defence rose to the occasion and thwarted his attempt.

The players from both the teams got into a scuffle forcing the umpires to halt the match for six minutes.

As the scores remained tied at 1-1 after the regulation time, the match went into extra-time where Almada shot home the golden goal to seal the issue in Argentina’s favour.With nine goals, Sandeep Singh was the top-scorer of the tournament.

Rehan Butt of Pakistan was declared Player of the Tournament, while Lucas Argento of Argentina was declared the Man of the Final.

Other results:

Third place: New Zealand 2 (Simon Child 20, Gareth Brooks 50) bt Pakistan 1 (Rehan Butt 17). Fifth place: Canada 4 (Connor Grimes 5, Ravi Kahlon 12, Bindi Kullar 46, Philip Wright 83) bt Belgium 3 (Jerome Dekeyser 3, 8, Max Luycx 58). — PTI