Hockey WC: Australia thump India 5-2 to end euphoria

Saumojyoti Singha Choudhury

New Delhi, Mar 2 (PTI) A dismal India were jolted out of
their euphoria as Australia spanked them 5-2 in the hockey
World Cup here Tuesday night.

On a high after Sunday's fairytale 4-1 victory against
Pakistan, the Indians were in for a shock on Tuesday as
Olympic silver medallist Australia opened their account as
early as in the second minute and there was no stopping them.
The mighty Australians toyed with the Indian defence and
scored through Glenn Turner (10th minute, 43rd), Liam De Young
(2nd), Desmond Abbott (26th) and Luke Doerner (42nd).
For India, Vikram Pillay (35th) and captain Rajpal Singh
(53rd) sounded the board.
Tuesday's defeat saw India drop down in the points table
to the fourth spot with England on top with two wins, followed
by Australia and Spain.
India face Spain in their next Pool B encounter at the
same Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium on Thursday.
Australia could have won the match 6-2 had it not been
for Adrian D'souza, who stopped a Jamie Dwyer's penalty stroke
five minutes from the hooter.
With this victory, Australia has not only earned three
full points but also the Ajit Pal-Ric Charlesworth Trophy as
the match was designated as a friendship match between the two
countries.

The Indians were completely outplayed in all departments
of the game as Australia scored goals almost at will to bring
the hosts down to the earth after their 4-1 victory over
Pakistan in the first match of the quadrennial event.
The Indian defence looked in complete disarray, while the
forwardline lacked purpose and were guilty of holding on to
the ball. The mid-field looked off-colour and failed to create
chances unlike the Pakistan match where they controlled the
proceedings.
Ace drag-flicker Sandeep Singh who dazzled against
Pakistan, converting two penalty corners, failed to find the
net once out of the three short corners India earned in the
match.
Australia played like a wounded tiger after their
shocking 2-3 loss at the hand of England and scored two goals
within the first 10 minutes of the match.
The Kookaburras surged ahead in the second minute of the
match when Liam De Young scored from a rebound after his
initial shot had clashed against the crossbar.
The Aussies caught the Indian defence napping with quick
moves and earned three penalty corners in the first 15
minutes.
Ric Charlesworth's boys earned back-to-back penalty
corners and doubled their lead in the 10th minute when Tuner
slammed home from the second set-piece, much to the
disappointment of the near-capacity crowd. PTI SSC
DEP