Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Ipoh (Malaysia), India squandered numerous scoring chances and survived a few anxious moments before a late goal sealed a 3-1 victory over Canada in the 25th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup here today.
Failing to exert pressure despite taking an early lead, India hung on against several threatening Canadian raids to clinch their second victory in three outings.
Nikkin Thimmaiah opened the account in the third minute, but Keegan Pereira equalised for Canada in the 23rd minute.
Harmanpreet Singh converted a penalty corner in the 41st minute and Talwinder Singh capitalised on a Sardar Singh cross in the 67th minute.
With six points from three outings, India are now third in the round-robin league standings. On top of the table are Australia with nine points from three successive wins followed by New Zealand on eight points from four outings.
Earlier in the day, Australia thrashed Pakistan 4-0, while New Zealand defeated Japan 4-1.
India’s defence came under a lot of pressure from Canada. Goalkeeper Harjot Singh made a blunder in conceding the first penalty corner, but made a few good saves before he was replaced by Akash Chikte in the second quarter. Both the goalkeepers made four good saves each.
India opened the scoring in the third minute. Rupinder Pal Singh’s long ball from deep inside the Indian territory found SV Sunil at the left of the Canadian circle. Sunil sent a cross that beat goalkeeper David Carter and left Thimmaiah to tap the ball into an open goal.
Canada forced their first penalty corner in the 13th minute and the low shot from Gordon Johnston was blocked by Harjot.
Harjot again came to India’s rescue in the next minute when he saved Pereira’s lunging reverse drive from close range.
Canada equalised against the run of play when a long ball was relayed by Matthew Sermento to Pereira in the circle. With plenty of time and space, Pereira made no mistake.
Talwinder had a chance to put India ahead again in the 27th minute when he received a cross from the left, but the Canadian goalkeeper covered his shot well to ward off the danger.
Then it was again Canada’s turn to give India some jitters as Sukhi Panesar took a shy at the goal, followed by two penalty corners in the last two minutes of the first half.
India took the lead again in the 41st minute after Harmanpreet fired in a cracking drag-flick that went in off the left upright post.
SK Uthappa and Ramandeep Singh were guilty of wasting golden opportunities before captain Sardar Singh’s shot hit the post. Canada forced two penalty corners and the Indian defence lived dangerously before Talwinder eased the pressure with a late goal.
Oltmans reprimands careless Harjot
India coach Roelant Oltmans expressed his displeasure at the careless manner in which Harjot used the back of his stick outside the circle to concede a penalty corner.
“He casually gave away the penalty corner. That’s just unacceptable,” Oltmans said.
“I took Harjot off the pitch because of this careless act. I cannot condone such acts,” said Oltmans, who felt India played well in the second half and deserved to win this match.
Canadian coach Anthony Farry also said India were the better side and deservedly won the encounter.
“India showed their class and were the better side. The victory was well-deserved,” said Farry.
India and Canada are placed in Group B in the Olympics.
Dwyer dazzles
Jamie Dwyer scored one and set up another in Australia’s 4-0 victory over Pakistan. Pakistan put up a stiff resistance despite Australia taking the lead through a 24th minute penalty corner conversion by Blake Govers before two goals in successive minutes featuring Dwyer took the fight out of them.
Dwyer set up the second Australian goal when he sent a reverse back-pass to Thomas Craig, who made no mistake in shooting past goalkeeper Imran Butt in the 41st minute.
A minute later, Dwyer applied the finishing touch to a long through ball from Chris Ciriello. Aran Zalewski rounded off the Australian scoring in the 52nd minute as he hustled past one defender at the top of the circle and beat the keeper with his low shot.
Pakistan, whose next fixture is against arch-rivals India on Tuesday, now have three points from three outings.
