Hockey World League: Australia cut India to size with 5-1 romp in quarterfinals

Jamie Dwyer once said during the Hero Hockey India League that the Indian hockey men’s hockey team can be really outstanding one day and abysmal the next day. The Michael Nobbs-coached side proved that in ample measure on Wednesday.

After belligerent display against New Zealand, in which India were locked in a 3-3 draw, it once again the same old story as the Indians pressed the inconsistency button and were failed to overcome the ‘early goal’ syndrome, going down tamely 1-5 to 2nd ranked Australia to end their hopes of sealing one of the three World Cup berths from the Rotterdam event.

India do have a second chance of qualifying for the 2014 World Cup when they participate in the 2013 Asia Cup slated to be held in Ipoh in August.

As is the trend among the top teams to score early against India, it was no different today as well as the Kookaburras struck in the 2nd minute of play through Glen Simpson after Christian Cirello sold a dummy with their first penalty corner.

The early goal saw the Aussies soaring in confidence as they dominated possession and pinned the Indians in their own half with increasing regularity.

India were reduced to ten man very early in the match when Dharamvir Singh was yellow-carded for arguing with the umpire, which definitely affected his team’s rhythm.

India did force a penalty corner in the 16th minute but Sandeep Singh could not profit from it.

Matt Ghodes extended the lead in the 20th minute when he beat PR Sreejesh with a fierce shot from the top of the striking circle.

India reduced the margin when Chinglensana Singh made the most of a defensive lapse on the part of Kiel Brown to slam home in the 21th minute.

The Indian joy was short-lived as experienced Sandeep Singh let in an own goal while trying to keep an Australia raid at bay.

The Blueshirts were rattled by the lapse, from which they could never recover.

Jamie Dwyer, playing in his 300th international, was orchestrating the attacking moves with Matt Ghodes, Russell Ford and Trent Milton.

Australia made the scoreline 4-1 when Russell Ford slotted home a nice Kieren Govers pass in the 22nd minute as the match saw four goals inside ten minutes.

Australia led 4-1 at half-time.

India needed to summon desperate measures in a bid to stay in the contest but Australia killed off such hopes when they scored the fifth goal via Matthew Swann off a short corner taken by Christian Ciriello in the 39th minute.

India by now were totally demoralized by the Aussie onslaught. Their moves upfront lacked bite even as Australia were on the lookout to increase their tally, but India deprived them from scoring further.

India will now play the loser of the Netherlands-France match on Friday.