Fight from 0-3 down to lose 4-3 in Azlan Shah opener
Before setting out for Malaysia, Indian coach Michael Nobbs had stated on several occasions that he is looking at the 22nd Sultan Azlan Shah Cup as just another opportunity to prepare for the 2016 Rio Olympics.
If India’s performance in their first match against mighty Australia on Saturday is anything to go by, then Nobbs’ ‘Mission Olympics’ is certainly on the right track. Nobbs has taken along a young team led by winger Danish Mujtaba. Sans any big names, the inexperienced youngsters fought back from a 0-3 deficit to score three goals in the second half for a creditable 3-4 scoreline.
In the process, they displayed a crucial quality — fighting spirit — their lack of experience proved te be their undoing when they conceeded two quick goals in the second half which became the turning point of the game.
First it was a penalty corner in the 39th minute, which Glenn Simpson converted with the Indian defence being sold a dummy by one of the Australian players standing in the opposition striking circle. Before the Indians could get their acts together, it became 3-0 as Gohdesh got his second goal a few seconds later.
Until that point, the Indians had fared quite well. Although the Australians enjoyed more ball possession, the Indian defence and goalkeeper PR Sreejesh had given a good account of themselves while the forwards came close to scoring on a couple of occasions.
However, the Indian defence finally caved in the 24th minute when the Aussies got their first penalty corner. While Sreejesh saved the hit, Gohdes who had pushed the ball, snapped it hard from the rebound to give his team a 1-0 lead.
Although the Indians averted further setback before half-time, lack of focus during the early part of the second half cost them the match. But the match burst into life thereafter as the Indians fought back.
In the 41st minute, India managed to get their first short corner which Rupinder Pal Singh converted. His drag flick was a powerful one which didn’t give the Aussie defence a chance.
Having pulled a goal back, the Indian team came out of their shell with the likes of Mandeep Singh and Chingalsena trying to take control of the midfield. In the 51st minute, talented Malak scored the best out of the seven goals in the match. Receiving a pass from the top of the ‘D’, the player raced down the right wing and from an acute angle beat the Aussie goalkeeper, who had closed in on the near post.
With scoreline reading 2-3, one expected Michael Nobbs’ boys to go all-out for the elusive equaliser but the Australians used all their experience to increase their lead against the run of play. As the pressure increased on the Aussie defence, they went on the counter and earned a penalty corner with the Indian defenders faltering for an umpteenth number of time on the day.
For once, Sreejesh was not at his best as he committed early on the drive. It was Trent Milton, who was standing near the goalmouth chipped it over the diving goal-keeper to make it 4-2. The match was into its 53rd minute at that point of time.
The Australians did get another penalty corner after this but the Indian defence was equal to its task as they foiled the attempt. Finally, when Rupinder Pal got his second and team’s third goal, it was too late in the day and the Australians managed to hold on to their slender lead and logged home three points.
India will play their next match on Sunday against South Korea.
In other matches on Saturday, Pakistan edged out New Zealand 4-3 while
Performance pleases coach Nobbs
India’s chief coach Michael Nobbs said he had enough reasons to be pleased with the performance of his wards.
“Australia’s two goals early in the second half unsettled us. But I am happy with the way the boys fought back and managed to narrow the gap,” Nobbs said.
“We brought a development squad here and I am satisfied with the performance of the team against Australia today.”
India’s captain in this tournament, Danish Mujtaba endorsed the view of his coach and said they have learnt valuable lessons from today’s performance against Australia.
“A few areas the team has to work upon. But Rupinder was terrific with penalty corner conversions today,” he said.
Australia coach Ric Charlesworth did not look entirely pleased with his side’s performance.
“A hard lesson for the youngsters. The inexperience showed when we gifted two goals to India,” Charlesworth said. “Penalty corners are critical and conceding those in tandem almost spelt doom for us,” he added.