Hockey World League semis: Great Britain thrash India 5-1 in third place play-off
In the third place play-off at the Hockey World League (HWL) semis, India were convincingly beaten 5-1 by Great Britain. Both teams had lost their respective semi-finals – India 4-0 against Belgium and Great Britain 3-1 against Australia as they were relegated to fight for the 3rd and 4th places at Brasschaat in Antwerp, Belgium.
The match started at a frantic pace with both teams playing on the offensive. The Indians had a good chance in the second minute of the match, but Akashdeep Singh couldn’t apply the final touch to the cross by Gurbaj Singh. The Britishers reacted straight away and after a good run by Ashley Jackson, they found themselves in the Indian D, but the cross evaded everybody and went out of play.
Neither goalkeeper had been tested so far and a wayward cross hit Birendra Lakra on the wrist in the 7th minute and he had to go off to get treatment. In the 11th minute however, PR Sreejesh had to be on his toes to deny Samuel Ward, but Great Britain were awarded a penalty corner. Alastair Brogdon broke the deadlock by applying the finishing touch to Daniel Fox’s shot at the far post.
India had a good chance to equalise in the second quarter, but Devindar Walmiki took an extra touch and failed to test the English goalkeeper, George Pinner. The Britishers were playing good, fast-flowing hockey changing the point of attack on numerous occasions to rattle the Indians. In the 25th minute, Michael Hoare’s mazy run got him inside the Indian D, but Barry Middleton’s deflection was saved.
The team ranked 5th in the world got the ball in the goal, but they had to wait before the referee confirmed that Chris Griffiths had indeed touched the ball inside the D. Nicholas Catlin, from outside the 25-yard line, hit a shot towards goal which Griffiths deflected in to double Britain’s lead. The Indians looked below par in the first half and coach Paul van Ass would have been delighted to hear the half-time hooter so that he could pick his players up.
India routed in the second half
Britain started the second half the same way they had ended the first – on the front foot. They forayed into the Indian half on a couple of occasions in the first two minutes. A mistake by Sardar Singh resulted in Ashley Jackson running through on goal, but he couldn’t find his teammate inside the box. India countered and Lalit Upadhyay found Ramandeep Singh with a brilliant pass, but, the foward could not beat the onrushing Pinner.
Pinner kicked the ball out and Britain went on a lightning fast counter-attack. Samuel Ward got past his marker and crossed for Ashley Jackson to tap the ball home and make it 3. Britain won a short corner after the ball hit Chinglensana Singh’s foot and Sreejesh made a fantastic save off the resulting drag-flick. However, the referee gave Britain another penalty corner, which Adam Dixon brilliantly deflected above the Indian goalkeeper to make it 4.
In the 44th minute, the Great Britain captain Middleton made it 5 when he was found free in the D and he made no mistake in slotting the ball beyond Sreejesh to put the scoreline beyond India.
Britain could have made it 6 in the first minute of the final quarter, but Sreejesh closed down the Brogdon’s angle and his shot sailed over the post. With a little over 7 minutes left in the match, India won their first penalty corner. However, Jasjit Singh failed to change the scoreline as his drag flick went well wide of goal.
The team in red kept on pushing in a bid to increase their lead and won two back to back penalty corners, but Manpreet Singh closed the drag-flicker down on both occasions. In the final minute, India won their second penalty corner of the match after a sensational run by Akashdeep Singh and Rupinder Pal Singh stepped up to take it. The drag-flick specialist hit the ball hard and low to the substitute keeper, James Bailey’s right. The full time hooter went soon after.
Great Britain have booked their place in the Rio Olympics, while India, who had already secured a spot at the 2016 Games, will host the top 4 teams each of both HWL semis – Antwerp and Valencia – in the HWL finals later this year.