India went into the Champions Trophy riding a wave of optimism following triumphs in four-nation tournaments in Sydney and Hamburg. But by day four of the elite six-nation tournament in Amstelveen, the Netherlands, all that hope is turning to despair.
On Tuesday, at the Wagener Stadium, the team suffered its second reverse in three matches, losing 1-4 to Australia to virtually bow out of the medal race.
After lacklustre performances against the Netherlands and Germany, much was expected from the Indians today. They started off by fortifying the midfield with four men and playing Dhanraj Pillay, Gagan Ajit Singh, Prabhjot Singh and Baljit Dhillon upfront. The strategy looked good as they pounded the Australian goal in the initial minutes, during which they came by what was, in the end, their best chance of the match, but Dhanraj Pillay, who was put through by Baljit Dhillon, failed to beat Mark Hickman from handshanking distance.
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Thereafter, the Aussies called the shots and outplayed India to emerge easy winners. Had it not been for a fine display by goalkeeper Devesh Chauhan, the margin of defeat could have well read like a tennis score. Besides saving a penalty stroke in the 32nd minute, when he stretched out his left foot to thwart Brent Livermore's push, he waged a lone battle, saving the team from an even more embarrassing defeat.
At the last Champions Trophy, it was Australia who had made all the play, with India scoring from half chances to win 3-2. The diehard Indian fan might have hoped for that to happen again today.
Despite being at the receiving end, India managed to keep their slate clean till the 33rd minute. But a lazy clearance by Kanwalpreet Singh allowed the enterprising Grant Schubert to trap and despatch home and score his third goal of the tournament.
That goal opened the floodgates. Crossing over a goal ahead, the Aussies rattled the Indians with good positional play and quick passing to consolidate their lead in the 43rd minute when Schubert, at the left post, displayed fine opportunism to finish off a pass from Livermore.
Minutes earlier, Chauhan had parried a stiff shot from Schubert and then taken a bullet from Troy Elder off a penalty corner on his visor.
In the 46th minute, it was all over bar the shouting as Australia scored their third goal from a penalty stroke after Chauhan squatted on the ball in an atempt to stop the marauding Aussie forwards. Elder made no mistake this time.
India managed to pull one back through Dilip Tirkey from their second penalty corner, but Schubert scored his third goal of the match to complete the rout and keep the Aussies in the running in the tournament.
Match Summary:
Australia 4 (Grant Schubert (3), Troy Elder) beat India 1 (Dilip Tirkey).
