M A I N   N E W S

Indian dream shattered

SYDNEY, Sept 26 (UNI) — Disaster struck India two minutes before the final hooter today as they conceded an equaliser against Poland and their hopes of making to the Olympic hockey semifinal after two decades lay shattered on the polygrass turf at the Homebush Stadium.

After being held to a 1-1 draw by unheralded Poland in the rain-soaked last pool ‘B’ match, the Indian have now been left to fight for the fifth to eighth spots.

Both goals came in the second half. Dilip Tirkey put India in the lead in the 53rd minute but they could hold on to this only for 15 minutes and 27 seconds before Tomasz Choczaj dealt them a deadly blow.

Australia and Korea made it to the semifinals from this pool. Australia defeated Korea 2-1 to top the pool, while Korea and India finished with eight points each and same goal aggregate of 9-7 but the Koreans qualified by virtue of their 2-0 win against the Indians.

Indians just needed two minutes to make it to the semifinals and remain in the hunt for the elusive medal, but a defensive lapse at this crucial stage proved fatal for them as Tomasz Choczaj sent the ball flying into the net after getting a square pass from Rafal Grotowski. That nullified all the good work done by Dilip Tirkey who had converted the fourth penalty corner in the 53rd minute to give India a 1-0 lead.

Playing under a heavy drizzle through the 70 minutes, unpredictable India displayed tentative stickplay and paid dearly. Poland gave all they had in a match which had no consequence for them but they got a vicarious pleasure in denying their much famed rivals a berth in the last four grade and in the process did a favour to Asia Cup winners Korea.

“There is no excuse for the defeat, we missed chances. We had even a chance in the last 25 seconds with three players in the Polish circle and they had only the goalkeeper to beat,’’ coach V. Bhaskaran said later with an obvious tinge of dejection.

“It was the case of so near yet so far,’’ the coach said and added, “We hoped to repeat what we did against Spain. Even a 2-2 draw would have seen India into the semifinals because of better goal difference. “Now it is all in the realm of ifs and buts,’’ Bhaskaran, who as skipper got India the last medal (a gold at the Moscow games), said.

India needed a victory desperately, but they looked tense against the unfancied rivals. They seemed under pressure to perform and that did them in.

The forwards made moves but only to waste them. The Poles played according to the plan. They soon realised that Indians were desperate to win and as they had nothing to lose the Poles opened up the game.

In the first 20 minutes both the teams had three shots at each others’ goals. In the first half, India failed to earn a single penalty corner though they got five in the second. Poland had six penalty corners, three in each half.

In the crucial last 10 minutes, forward Mukesh Kumar was given marching orders as he challenged the umpire’s decision and threw the stick in anger. He was out for nine minutes and that was the period when Poland equalised against the 10-men Indian team.

The tentative approach was very much evident as the Indians huffed and puffed in the first half. Mukesh was off colour and others made heavy weather of the chances that came their way.

The rain added to India’s woes while Poland relished the conditions, being used to play in such weather.

The Poles left nothing to chance and crowded the defence which left the Indians struggling.

India opened the match on an attacking note and in the fourth minute midfielder Selvaraj set up Mukesh Kumar from the left flank but the forward fumbled in the circle and shot wide, missing a good chance.

Poland defended their citadel with five players and only three were put in the attack. Lukasz Wybieralski, Piotr Mikula and Rafel Grotowski kept the Indian defence busy.

Mukesh and Dhanraj Pillay were not in their elements and that took away the sting from the attack. Baljit Singh Dhillon and Sameer Dad tried hard and were given good support by Saini and Mohammad Riaz in the midfield.

The Polish attack started looking menacing as Indians floundered. More the Indians missed, more the Poles attacked. The Indian goal survived some anxious moments in the 18th and 20th minutes, when Poland earned two penalty corners.

The desperate Indians made counter move with Saini running down the flank and relaying to Mukesh who squared the ball to Deepak Thakur. Thakur failed to connect it in front of the goal.

Suddenly the skies opened up as Indians made heavy weather of their chances.

Four minutes before the breather, Dhillon, in tandem with Sameer Dad, created a good opening but could not get past goalkeeper Marcin Pobuta, who blocked the shot.

As it started pouring, Poland increased the frequency of the counter moves. Seconds before the lemon break, unmarked Piotr Mikula’s reverse sweep just missed the target.

The first penalty corner for India came in the 43rd minute but Dhillon’s shot was saved by the goalkeeper. Two minutes later, another Indian attack fetched the side their second penalty corner. Tirkey took the shot but goalkeeper blocked it and on the rebound Pillay shot wide.

The third penalty corner came in India’s way in 52nd minute but was muffed as Poland players managed to clear the ball.

As the clock ticked away, the Indians grew restive for the goal and launched a furious onslaught which earned them their fourth penalty corner. This time Tirkey displayed quick reflexes. His shot was padded away by the goalkeeper but he charged out fast and on the rebound sent the ball home (1-0) and the team-mates into unbridled joy.

But it proved to be shortlived. The Poles did not give up and in the 60th minute forced three quick penalty corners but the Indian goal survived the crisis. At this juncture, Mukesh lost his temper and challenged the umpire’s decision to be sent out.

Poland capitalised on the opportunity and the 10-men Indian team came under pressure. In the 69th minute, tragedy struck as R. Grotowski moved up from left and sent a cross to unmarked Tomas Cichy whose first timer beat the goalkeeper all ends up smashing all hopes.

The Indians had the chance to surge ahead again in the last 20 seconds but Pillay, Dad and Dhillon just failed to beat the goalkeeper and that ended one more chapter in Indian hockey.

Their hopes of an Olympic medal vanished in thin air and now it would be another wait for four years.