Hockey
New Delhi: How do you stop the Australian onslaught? That’s one question the hockey world is asking these days. On a roll for the last 22 months, the Australians are simply unbeatable.
On Thursday, under the floodlights of the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, the Aussies, once again proved why they are the world champions. The 5-2 result showed that the other teams these days are playing a catch-up game with the men from down under.
As the electronic scoreboard showed some thunder-like lines instead of the score someone rightly quipped, “India in reality was hit by a thunder.”
Australia took a 2-0 lead within the first 6 minutes courtesy Trent Mitton and Des Abbott but in the 13th minute, Dharamveer Singh scored a fantastic field goal to reduce the margin. On the break he went past his marker, then unleashed a reverse hit which did not give any chance to Nathan Burgers, the Aussie goalie.
After that it was India throughout the first half but somehow they just couldn’t change the score line. Seven penalty corners went begging and Ric Charlesworth’s men were lucky to end the half with 2-1.
However, after the change of ends, the Australians came to field with more vigour than before and made it 3-1 in the 48th minute through Eddie Ockenden. “That killed off the contest. A 2 goal deficit against the Australians is always a huge mountain to climb,” said Bharat Chikara, the hero of India’s encounter against Malaysia, in the mixed zone.
The 3rd goal was a drawing board goal and it gave an impression of how well the world champions have practised for the CWG. Doerner played it to Ockenden from the penalty corner, who smartly deflected it to the goal. The Indians had no clue about Doerner’s intentions and looked clearly out of sorts.
The fourth and the fifth goals came soon after that and the crowd, who were cheering every move in the first half, started leaving. The fourth goal came from Liam de Young, while Glenn Turner scored the fifth.
India got their consolation goal in the last second of the match when Sandeep Singh converted a penalty corner. But it was too late. The Indian defence once again was shockingly amateurish with both, Prabodh Tirkey and Dhananjay Mahadik, having a forgettable outing.
“We just did not have the answers against the Australian attack. Had we scored another goal in the first half, it could have been difficult for them,” said Chikara ruefully.
India now meets Scotland and then on Sunday, plays old rivals Pakistan. They cannot afford any more slip-ups henceforth as it could affect their chances for a semi final spot. “We have to win the next two matches,” Chikara said. We all know that but do India have that quality to win two consecutive matches? Let’s see how things unfold.
Tags: Australia, Commonwealth Games, Hockey, India, Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium
