India miss chances as Korea claim full points

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Sydney: Two great games and then the let down. Typical of the Indian hockey team, one might say. But that's how it panned out against the South Koreans in their Olympic hockey league match at the Sydney Hockey Centre.

The 0-2 loss against South Korea left India mulling over what is in store for them over the next few days. A semi-final berth that seemed to be theirs for the asking on the strength of two excellent performances, is now once again under a cloud.

The Indians must win their last two matches against a wounded Spanish side that is still smarting under the insult heaped upon them by Poland, and the charged-up Polish side itself.

A little later in the morning session, the Indians could take heart from the result between the Poland-Argentina match that became a goal orgy and finally ended a massive 5-5 draw. A win for Poland could have queered the pitch for India, for the Poles would then have had six points from two wins in three games.

An Argentine win would have seen the South Americans at four points from three games, the same as India. Thursday's win meant the Koreans are back in the fray with five points from three games and Australia have played only two games.

The Indians sure do have an uphill task ahead of them. As things stand, Korea are leading the group with five points, while Australia, India and Poland have four points each. The Argentines have two and Spain have one from two games. Spain and Australia clash in what will be the third match for both sides.

Coming back to the India game, the Koreans struck once in each half to record their first win after two draws and catapult to the top of the pool. They avenged their agonising Asian Games defeat in Bangkok two years ago.

In the two matches since the Asian Games, the Koreans had the psychological advantage of having thrashed India once 6-1 and drawing 1-1 in the two-leg four-nation tournaments in Perth and Sydney last year.

Seung Tae Song gave the Koreans the lead in the 28th minute and skipper Keon Wook Kang enhanced it to 2-0 in the 42nd minute. The Koreans, one of the fittest sides in modern hockey, according to Dhanraj Pillay, love fast play. And the Indians may well have played into their hands.

Within 15 minutes or so, the Indian players realised that instead of having their own strategy, they were playing according to the Korean wishes. Add to that the "leaden foot" movements plus some chances that went abegging and the pathetic picture was complete.

On the other hand, the Indians missed some chances. Mukesh Kumar missed a chance in the 24th minute when he shot straight into the goal-keeper and then Dhillon scooped over the bar in the 33rd minute. The Koreans had done their homework, marking Pillay closely and at times had two people on him.

Mukesh, Baljit Singh Dhillon and Samer Dad were unable to break through.The midfield too was off colour as Mohammed. Riaz had a poor game. The defence did make efforts but were unable to check the rampant Koreans.

Ironically it was the Indians who had more shots at the goal, but it was the Koreans who converted their chances. That made all the difference. A disappointed coach Vasudevan Baskaran said, "We missed our chances and they converted theirs."

However the candid coach rejected any excuse based on a early morning game. "It was so for both teams," he said.

India Abroad News Service