Thaindian News

By Avishek Roy and Sirshendu Panth
New Delhi, March 9 (IANS) India saved the blushes with a late goal to finish 3-3 with South Africa, while Australia joined England in the semifinals from Pool B of the Hockey World Cup here Monday.

Four-time winners Pakistan came up with a much-improved performance but favourites Australia eked out a 2-1 victory to go into the semis with 12 points as the top team from the group.

It was a highly forgettable outing for Pakistan who brought up the rear of the six-team Pool claiming three points, and would now have to settle for the 11th-12th position play-off with Canada.

Already assured of a last four berth, European champions England’s four-match winning streak was broken as they suffered their first loss in the tournament with a 0-2 scoreline against Olympic silver medallists Spain. England wrapped up their group engagements with 12 points, same as Australia, but had to settle for the second slot on goal difference.

The match between world number 12 India and number 13 South Africa was exciting with both teams pressing the attack button from the start.

Lloyd Norris-Jones (8th) put the visitors ahead, before the Indians struck through Sarvanjit Singh (17th minute) and Vikram Pillay (24th minute) to lead 2-1 at half time.

But South Africa bounced back with strikes from Ian Haley (39th) and Austin Smith (47th minute) through penalty corners and went 3-2 up, much to the dismay of a large crowd at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium.

Shivendra Singh (66th) scored the equaliser in the dying moments to draw the match 3-3, and ensure a fourth place finish for India with four points in the pool. South Africa were equal with India on points, but finished fifth because of an inferior goal difference.

The hosts would now clash for the seventh-eighth position against the team finishing fourth in Pool A. South Africa would have to settle for the play-off for the ninth-tenth slot

The game, however, saw some controversial moments with the score leveled 2-2 when the field umpires disallowing an Indian goal in the 45tht minute following a referral sought by the South Africans who claimed they had earned a penalty corner due to an infringement by Vikram Pillay before India’s goal-bound move.

The penalty corner led to another and South African captain Smith made it 3-2 from the second.

For Pakistan, veteran Sohail Abbas scored first, converting a penalty cornerin the 24th minute to put Pakistan 1-0 up at the halftime. Desmond Abbott then equalised in the 38th minute and struck the winner seven minutes from the final hooter.

Australia were almost through to the last four even before Monday’s game. The only way Spain could have pipped the Kookaburras was by defeating England by a bigger margin.

It was Pakistan’s fourth loss in the tournament, their only win coming against Spain. They, however, played their hearts out against Australia.

In fact, Pakistan could have easily walked away with a win had they converted their chances in the dying minutes. Perhaps, it was their lack of confidence that let them down.

Australian captain Jamie Dwyer later admitted that it was one of the better performances from Pakistan and it could have been anybody’s game.

Playing their last Pool B match, Spain scored through Pau Quemada (35th minute), who converted a penalty corner in the first half while Eduard Tubau (64th) increased the lead. The Spaniards finished third in the Pool with nine points and would play in the fifth-sixth place classification outing with the team taking the same place in Pool A.

Very little at stake, England players did not stretch themselves but coach Jason Lee refused to buy the argument.

“We did not take the game easy, but Spain played a really good game. We know that they can upset any team,” said Lee.