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TAKENOLOGIC OUT OF THIS
Australia down careless Pak
Jadeja’s appeal rejected, to miss IPL
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World Cup Diary
Mourinho fumes as Inter fire blanks
Why this mockery?
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TAKENOLOGIC OUT OF THIS New Delhi, March 8
While the game ended 3-3, keeping India’s unbeaten record against the Proteas in the World Cup intact, it must have left India with a bitter taste. The way the hosts have played through the World Cup has been really uninspiring, and this match, despite not generating an enthusiastic public response, had some reputation points riding on it. India started the game on the back foot as South Africa came out with all guns blazing. And then in the 7th minute, Lloyd Norris Jones shot from the edge of the circle to beat Adrian D’Souza and give Proteas the lead. The partisan crowd in the stadium went quite for a while as India were found wanting for the nth time during the past week. There is a certain defensive shakiness to India’s play that has been the core reason for the defeats during the course of the tournament. But while they have been leaking goals, scoring hasn’t been the biggest issue to deal with. And so in the 17th minute, Sarwanjit dribbled his way through and slammed the ball past the goalkeeper. Then again in the 25th minute, it was Diwakar Ram’s turn to score for the hosts. After a penalty corner was goofed up, Diwakar was at the end of a pass from outside the circle and simply tapped the ball in. The hosts went in for the breather with a wafer thin lead. The second half started with the South Africans once again dominating opening play. In the 38th minute they won a penalty corner and this time, Justin Reid was at the end of a brilliantly worked PC, to simply deflect the ball in. At 2-2 it was game on once again. Then came the moment that this game will be remembered by. In the 45th minute, South Africa broke down the right wing and the ball hit Vikram Pillay on the arm, but the referee gave a free hit to India. The hosts broke quickly, and well-worked combination play between Gurwinder Singh Chandi and skipper Rajpal Singh made Sarvanjit Singh’s task on the far post to push the ball over the goalline, relatively easy. But South Africa protested for the Pillay blow and the video umpire confirmed the appeal. The Indian goal gave way to a South African penalty corner, and subsequently the Proteas took the lead through South African captain Austin Smith. India were feeling the heat of another possible defeat, but maybe the optimism in the cheering crowd’s voice finally rubbed on to them and in the 65th miunute, Shivendra Singh scored from close range to direct the ball into the roof of the net. The equaliser came, but the winner didn’t. While the draw means India will be fighting for the 7-8th place and South Africa will have to slug it for 9-10th position. It also means that Pakistan will be fighting it out for the 11-12th place.
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Australia down careless Pak
New Delhi, March 8
But the Australians are dreaded not just for their high-octane game, but also for their ability to fight hard. After the Pakistanis had taken lead in the 24th minute, they hit back in the 38th minute when Desmond Abbott scored a well struck field goal, after some fine stick work down the left flank. It was just one moment, where the Pakistan defence switched off, but it proved enough for the burly Australian striker to thump the ball in past Salman Akbar. But Pakistan did not brood over the lapse and kept up the efforts to make the most of their chances. The dominating play of the Aussies, a trademark all through the World Cup, was nowhere to be seen during the first half as Pakistan did not break shape and remained water-tight in defence. Both teams went in level at the breather. The second half started with the Australians making constant forays in the Pakistan area. There was more urgency to their play and the wings kept moving to stretch the Pakistan mid-field. There were moments when it looked that Pakistan would be able to hit out with some speedy counter moves, but it remained a deadlock for long enough. Then with just four minutes to go, Shakeel Abbassi got what was pretty much the chance of the match when after some wonderful skill down the right flank, the Pakistan players opened up the Australian defence. Shakeel was left alone at the centre of the 16-yard circle and all he had to do was beat the goalkeeper. But he took a shot without taking a first touch to stop the ball, and hit wide above the goal. The miss looked like one that would make the Pakistan team pay and that was exactly what happened. With just two minutes to go, it was Desmond Abbott again who was at the helm of a flowing move to strike the ball again. The blow came late enough to cause a few Pakistan shoulders to drop. Australia held on to go to 12 points and reinforce their claim as one of the hottest title contenders. Pakistan, on the other hand, might feel done in late, but as the old saying goes, ‘It ain’t over till the fat lady sings’. This time the ‘fat lady’ was just not in tune with the men in green.
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Jadeja’s appeal rejected, to miss IPL
New Delhi, March 8 Jadeja was banned for negotiating outside his contract with the Rajasthan Royals. In his appeal, the all-rounder claimed that he had taken the BCCI’s permission to look for other teams after the Royals gave no indication of renewing his contract which ended in December last year. According to ‘Cricinfo’, IPL vice-chairman Niranjan Shah raised the issue of reducing the ban on Jadeja with BCCI President Shashank Manohar during yesterday’s tender meeting in Mumbai but his appeal was turned down. “He
(Manohar) did not want to set a wrong precedent, so he dismissed the request. So Jadeja now cannot play in the IPL (this year),” an IPL official said. —
PTI |
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Spain halt England winning spree
New Delhi, March 8 England suffered their first defeat in five matches though they have ensured a place in the last four with 12 points while Spain recorded their third win in five matches to take their points tally to nine to put themselves with an outside chance of a semifinal berth. Australia also have nine points from four matches, and their record 12-0 victory against South Africa has given their goal tally a big push which will stand them in good stead if they have to fight with Spain on goal difference. To come back to the match, Spain played no frills game with a fine attacking display though their scoring chances were few and far between. They perhaps did not believe in quantity, but quality, as their two goals came off superb efforts. Dependable Pau Quemada converted their first penalty corner with a neat flick just on the stroke of half time. The second goal, which came 24th minutes into the second session, also had the touch of Quemada as he and Eduard Tubau took the ball into the dee after a passing bout before Tubau connected with a firm touch. Captain Pol Amat, who played as a mid-field general, setting up the moves and then falling back to defend, was aptly adjudged the man of the match. In a fast-paced contest with crisp, short passes, England found the going tough as the Spanish players gave them very little room to work up their moves. Yet, Iain Mackay used the wing to mount a few furious moves and two of which almost spelt danger to the Spanish goal. In the 21st minute, Mackay failed to cash in on a fine cross from Ben Hawes. Two minutes later, Mackay set up a cross for Rob Moore who moved in for the kill, but before he could unleash a firm shot, he was zeroed in on by the defenders to dispossess. England also wasted two penalty corners they earned in the firs half while Spain converted one of the two. When it comes to England and World Cup, Spain seem to put their best put forward as it was their fifth World Cup victory over England in seven meetings. They lost one and drew one, and in the 2009 Champions Trophy in Australia, Spain had triumphed over England 5-2. |
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World Cup Diary
New Delhi, March 8 Even ad blitzkrieg featuring Bollywood and sports stars has been of little help. Those coming regularly to watch all games are ardent lovers of the game belonging to the strong Indian overseas community. On a day when India is not playing, at least every third spectator in the stands is an overseas Indian. Amazingly, even Olympians and international players of yesteryears based in Delhi and National Capital Region, too, have been keeping away from the event. Among the regulars are Balbir Singh Senior, Balbir Singh (Services), Harcharan Singh, HJS Chimni, Aslam Sher Khan, Pargat Singh, Sukhvir Grewal, Ashok Kumar, Syed Ali, Zafar Iqbal, Jalaluddin, MP Singh, Jagdeep Singh Gill, Jugraj Singh and a few others. Former left winger Thoiba Singh, now associated with administration of the sport in the Northeast, was also spotted some days ago. Not many of the former office-bearers of the Indian Hockey Federation, including KPS Gill, Inder Mohan Mahajan, Ashwani Kumar, Raghuvendra Prasad and K. Jothikumaran, have evinced any interest in the World Cup. Overseas visitors include Shiv Jagday (former national coach of both the US and Canada), Sarjit Singh (former captain and coach of Malaysia), Akhtar Rasool and Sardar Hassan (both former captains of Pakistan). Olympian Avtar Singh (Kenya), one of finest fullbacks belonging to overseas Indian community is also regular. Dr Joginder Singh, who retired as an orthopaedician in Germany, and had been honorary physician of Indian team for last 30 years, too, watches all the games with his wife, daughter and son-in-law who incidentally is the President of a major hockey club in Germany. Those who arrived late include Michael Kindo, one of greatest fullbacks tribal India has produced. Manager of the Netherlands team, Ties Kruize, had played the 1981-82 World Cup in Mumbai. Those still not noticed include Horst Vein, popularly known as mother of all hockey coaches. Paul Lissek, who played in the 1975 World Cup, has been here as a part of Team Australia. Other day when the National Press Club of India held a reception for visiting Pakistani and other foreign journalists, commentator Jasdev Singh recalled his long association with the game. Only broadcaster and commentator to receive the Olympic order besides getting country’s highest Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan awards, Jasdev Singh was visibly upset for not being invited to witness the World Cup. Though now men and women hockey bodies have merged, the ongoing World Cup appears to be all males domain. Not many of former women Olympians or international players are to be seen here. Amrit Bose, former Secretary of Women’s Hockey Federation, is perhaps an exception. |
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Mourinho fumes as Inter fire blanks
Rome, March 8 Mourinho, who was serving the second of a three-match touchline ban, was so unimpressed that he charged out of his seat to get as close as possible to the pitch to bark his orders. It wasn’t until the last 15 minutes that Inter looked dangerous with Maicon, substitute Samuel Eto'o and Wesley Sneijder coming close. Inter moved onto 59 points, four clear of AC Milan, who also finished goalless against Roma on Saturday. Unheralded Palermo underlined their bid for a place in the Champions League next season as well as their burgeoning domestic title credentials with a 1-0 win over Livorno. The three points, garnered courtesy of Fabrizio Miccoli's goal nine minutes from the end, took the Sicilians into fourth place in Serie A, two points clear of Juventus, who Palermo had seen off in Turin last weekend. Juve slid back a place into fifth having won 2-1 at Fiorentina on Saturday. Sampdoria are sixth, a point further back, after a 2-1 home win over Lazio. The visitors took a seventh-minute lead through Sergio Floccari but quickfire ripostes around the half hour mark from Stefano Guberti and Giampaolo Pazzini proved enough for Samp to take the three points. —
AFP |
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Why this mockery? New Delhi, March 8 The Tribune (World Cup Diary) had raised this pertinent point. And today, the hosts were made to pay a major price for this new system. It is the second time India has suffered. First it was two-match suspension slapped on Shivendra Singh in a post match suo moto action by the Tournament Director. “It is mockery of the system,” says Rajinder Gandhi, a retired national umpire and now a judge on the national panel of Hockey India. “How such a thing could be allowed. There has to be some time limit before a video referral can be demanded. You cannot allow unlimited time for video referral.” “By disallowing a legitimate field goal India had scored, umpires went back to a sequence that had taken place almost 30 seconds earlier. The video umpire took cognizance of that, awarded a penalty corner to South Africa from which a goal was scored. Instead of India taking 3-2 lead, it was other way. Indian goal was disallowed and South African protest upheld,” says an agitated Rajinder Gandhi. “I have been trying to get in touch with the management of Team India to suggest to them to lodge a formal protest and demand a debate on the problems that are being encountered after introduction of this rule here. Instead the International Hockey Federation should have waited for a while, studied its implications, and sought views from umpires, judges and technical officers before using this in the sport’s highest tournament, the World Cup. Several other international umpires, technical officials, including Tarlok Singh Bhullar, Harbans Singh and others want a review of the video referral. |
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New Delhi, March 8
What is the stuff champions are really made of? Grit? Flair? Substance? One major factor is perseverance. Australia, the team that recorded the biggest winning margin in a World Cup game, fought out till the last minute to down a careless Pakistan.
New Delhi, March 8
While the game was high-paced, and provided enough actions and six goals to the spectators, the defining moment of the game was when in the 45th minute India’s goal was disallowed by the referee after a South African appeal.
Pakistan scored first to the delight of their supporters in the stadium. Sohail Abbas was the man on the money again as he scored through a penalty corner. The Pakistan defence had been shaky against the Proteas, but they kept their positions and apart from the occasional foray ahead, never compromised the opening exchanges. It was looking as if the Asian giants were out to redeem some of the lost pride.
CHENNAI: