Indian colts finish lowly ninth

India went on a goal-scoring spree to trounce Poland 4-0 and finish a lowly ninth in the FIH Men's Junior World Cup in Singapore on Saturday.

The Indian colts scored twice in each half through Mohammad Amir Khan (18th minute), Jay Karan (35th), Danish Mujtaba (46th) and Birendra Lakra (58th) to end their campaign on a winning note at the Seng Kang Sports Complex.

Interestingly, contrary to their ninth place finish in the quadrennial event, India ended their campaign with six convincing wins, one draw and one loss.

The Indians also scored the maximum number of goals (42) by any team in the tournament while conceding just nine.

In the 9th-10th play-off match, India began with flourish and caught the Polish defence off-guard on numerous occasions with their midfielders and forwards moving in tandem.

India, who had earlier defeated Poland 4-2 in a preliminary pool match, missed two chances -- Mujtaba and medio Vikas Sharma being the offenders -- before they opened the account.

Central midfielder Belsajar Horo sent a well-measured tap to left winger Amir Khan, whose deft reverse shot past Polish goalkeeper Lukasz Mis gave India the lead in the 18th minute.

India then made continuous forays into the Polish circle from both the flanks which earned them four penalty-corners in the opening half.

The Indians doubled the scoreline at the stroke of half-time when Karan fired home from the rebound off captain Diwakar Ram's drag flick.

India continued their attacking game after the change of ends and in the 46th minute Mujtaba made it 3-0, deflecting home a cross from winger Mandeep Antil.

The Polish defence caved in again twelve minutes later as an unmarked right half Birendra Lakra sent the ball crashing past goalkeeper Mis from the edge of the circle.