Sport
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Hockey
India lets persistent S. Africa split points
By S. Thyagarajan
India 2 South Africa 2
Malaysia 2 Belgium 0
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec. 8. Lacing in a modicum of flair and fluency to the amalgam of craft, charm and consistency, India looked authoritative enough to claim full points but capitulated to the pressure, persistence and pugnacity of the South Africans in the last quarter to share honours in the Champions Challenge hockey cup here on Saturday. India led 2-1 at half time.
Inspired by the win against Argentina on Friday, the South Africans exuded that touch of confidence and a never-say- die spirit, which, at the end of the day brought them level with India on points at four each. But for Jude Menezes effecting a splendid save off Craig Fulton from a penalty stroke late in the second half, the verdict might have gone against India.
Quite predictably, the event is slipping into an unpredictable zone. As the German coach, Laul Lissek put it the other day, there is no clear favourite at this point.
India should have won Saturday's match, for the manner in which the frontline functioned. There were some eye-catching forays led by that inimitable Baljit Singh Dhillon supported admirably on the left by Prabhjot Singh. As always, Dhanraj contributed the element of elan to the attack.
Conspicuous in mid-field was Sukhbir Singh Gill whose interceptions were striking and effective. Thirumal was consistent but the line was shuffled frequently with Bipin Fernandez, Vikram Pillay and Arjun Halappa coming in now and then. Even Rathakrishnan was fielded briefly at the start. In the absence of Kanwalpreet Singh, the deep defence was manned by Jugraj and Lazarus Barla.
An impeccable drag flick by Jugraj Singh gave India an early lead but the joy it produced was ephemeral. In a counter- attack, the South Africans forced a penalty corner and Justin King produced a stunner to beat Jude Menezes lock, stock and barrel. India however called the shots, making forays at a frenzied pace stretching the South African defence.
Warren Bond played a confident role inside the circle. But the man to watch in the South African squad was Craig Jackson. He marshalled the attack from the mid-field with infectious enthusiasm, claiming excellent response from Graig Fulton, Mike Cullen and Clyde Abrahams.
Midway through the first half, India slotted the lead. A penalty corner went in disarray but Jugraj Singh managed to find a space for Deepak Thakur who drove into the net. There was no indication of India letting the grip slip on resumption. Dhanraj and Prabhjot Singh went in a brilliant bout but the former failed to connect the pass into the goal.
A penalty corner flick by Baljit Dhillon was palmed effortlessly by goal-keeper Chris Hibbert. He also effected another splendid save from Prabhjot Singh in a penalty corner scrimmage. Halappa was shaping well at this point but invited punishment- an yellow card from the Malaysian umpure, Paramjit Singh.
The last quarter belonged to the South Africans. Forced to defend by the sheer pace of the sallies, the Indian defence palpably weakened. As errors mounted, there came an incisive run by Graig Fulton and full back Lazarus Barla had no option but to go on his knees to stop and the ball struck him. Umpire Sumesh Putra showed no hesitation in awarding a stroke. As South Africans waited with bated breath for Fulton to covert, Jude Menezes brought off spectacular save to deny the advantage.
But when 10 minutes remained for the hooter, Mike Cullen, the hero of the win against Argentina on Friday, provided a perfect pass to Craig Fulton whose wristy deflection left Menezes stranded inside the goal.
Ponderous and painfully inconsistent, the Malaysians were undistinguished throughout the first half. No layer worked with the expected measure of efficiency and control. On the contrary, it was the Belgians who dominated the mid-field, carried out a few threatening forays and defended well. Jean Philippe Brule and skipper Marc Coudron were prominent in the defence.
Minutes after resumption Malaysia gained the lead which was hotly disputed by the Belgians, headed by the goal- keeper Vincent Deneumostier. A long range hit caught the defence off guard, the ball hit the boards and Anwar came running out in celebration. But Belgians surrounded the Japanese umpire, Fujimura, who looked a bit uncertain and then awarded the goal. Obviously, the Belgians felt the ball had not come off Anwar's stick.
Encouraged by this fortunate turn of events, the Malaysians picked up the threads and began to exert pressure. Two penalty corners for the Belgians came to nought as also for the Malaysians who began to assert themselves in the rival territory.
Close on time, the Malaysians struck a beautiful goal fashioned by Tajol and completed by Mohammad Radhanizam Radzi. Malaysia, which has six points from two matches, tops the table.
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