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DEAR REDIFF

No Dutch comfort for India in world hockey

Harpal Singh Bedi in Utrecht

India suffered its second successive defeat, a humiliating one at that, when it caved in 0-5 to host and two-time champion Holland in the 9th men's World Cup hockey championship at Galgenwaard Stadium on Friday night.

The winners led 3-0 at half time.

With this defeat, India is virtually out of contention in the tournament.

> On the day, the Indians were completely outplayed by the superior aglity and speed of the Dutch. The hosts had total command and ball control through the game, and their wingers, in tandem with skipper Stephen Veen, orchestrated all the attacks with lighting speed.

For the winners, Stephen Veen scored three goals while Teun de Nooijer and Ramco Van Wijk chipped in a goal each.

India played with a visibly unfit captain Dhanraj Pillay for most of the match, but he could not combine with the nippy right-winger Mukesh Kumar.

It was Mukesh who engineered the Indian attacks initially with the help of long cross-hits from centre-half Mohammad Riaz. However, in the first 20 minutes dame luck smiled on the hosts as they survived three clear chances from Kumar.

The Dutch thereafter accelerated the pace of the game much to India's discomfort.

Holland earned their first penalty corner when left winger Wijk was stick-checked in the circle by Tirkey.

Specialist Bram Lomans took the sweep-push from Poeice and beat goalkeeper Jagdish Ponappa but, unluckily for Holland, defender Anil Aldrin brought off a spectacular goaline save.

Shortly thereafter, Stephen Veen broke through but hit wide, with only Poonappa to beat. Another penalty corner followed, but the ball was not stopped to a dead halt.

However, Holland did not have to wait much longer to score their first goal. Veen worked a chain move with Wijk from the right flank, dodging past defenders Lazarus Barla and Anil Aldrin in the 23rd minute (1-0).

Three minutes later, the Dutch struck again when the Indian defence crumbled due to midfeilder Baljit Singh Saini and Barla's lapses. Taun de Nooijer struck, beating Ponnappa convincingly (2-0).

India's miseries did not end here as the hosts scored in the 31st minute, when their skipper scored his second goal to make it 3-0.

In the second session, India entered the field looking a dismal lot. Nothing went right for them as they could not match the speed and athleticism of the hosts who seized every opportunity to strike.

Egged on by a very vociferous home crowd, Holland increased their tally when left half Ramandeep Singh was foxed by a body feint by Veen who, in another chain move with winger Wijk, banged home in the 47th minute (4-0).

Holland rounded off their tally in the 63rd minute when Wijk finally put his name on the scorers' list (5-0).

India appeared to lose heart when the Dutch had scored their first goal. The obviously unfit Dhanraj Pillay did little to build or spearhead the attack.

It was left to Mukesh Kumar to carry the onslaughts, but the winger did not find support from the other forwards. Riaz initially played an intelligent play-maker role, but once the rivals stepped up the tempo, he had difficulty in coping the challenge.

India committed numerous defensive blunders and were tentative after the Dutch had forged ahead.

The hosts are now the firm favourites, along with neighbours Germany, to qualify for the last four stage from Pool A. Both the sides have 6 points each from two victories.

For India it is virtually curtains for a semi-final slot, as two losses and a goal difference of minus seven has brought them to the bottom of their pool.

Meanwhile, Champions' Trophy winners and title contenders Germany overwhelmed New Zealand in another Pool A game, 3-0, to record their second successive win in the tournament. The winners led 2-0 at half time.