Lombi flattens India

Kuldeep Singh

India lost their opening match in the second round of eight in the men's hockey World Cup qualifier despite coming up with their best showing in the tournament. They were beaten by Argentina 5-3 on a hot, sunny afternoon at the Peffermil stadium in Edinburgh, Scotland, on Sunday.

And the man to flatten the eight-time Olympic champions was none other that the effervescent Jorge Lombi, who scored four goals from penalty-corners, after Rodrigo Vila opened the scoring for Argentina, to take his goal tally in the ongoing tournament to 10.

For India, Daljit Singh Dhillon (2) and Dilip Tirkey scored, all the goals coming from penalty-corners.

In other matches, Belgium rallied from a goal in arrears at half-time to hold New Zealand 1-1 while Spain and Canada also drew 1-1 in Pool E; Poland and Japan drew goalless in Pool F; Wales beat Bangladesh 1-0 and Scotland beat Russia 3-0 in Pool G; France trounced Egypt 3-1 and Chile beat the United States 2-1 in Pool H.

After the first stage, the top two teams from the preliminary stage of four pools have been drawn into two pools -- E and F, and they will play for berths in the semi-finals.

The teams which placed third and fourth have also been drawn into two groups and they will play for 9 to 16 positions.

Pool E has New Zealand, Belgium, Canada and Spain, while Pool F has Argentina, India, Poland and Japan.

India and Argentina last met at the Sydney Olympics, where they finished seventh and eighth respectively, and the result in that match was 3-0 in favour of India. Thus, much was expected from Sunday's clash, and it lived up to expectations.

Some fast hockey from both sides, good dribbling skills from the Indians, stout defending from the Argentines, and precision finishing from Jorge Lombi. That was the story in the opening match of Pool F.

After both sides used the first ten minutes to gauge each other, play opened up with the Indians using the long, high scoop often to unsettle the Argentina defence. Arjun Halappa and Baljit Singh Dhillon made clever use of the spaces to find their forwards but with little success.

From a counter attack, Argentina struck in the 19th minute following a defensive lapse. Baljit Singh Dhillon was disposessed and Almada put through with a long ball. The speedy forward did extremely well to get the ball past an advancing goalkeeper Jude Menezes for Vila to tap into an empty goal.

A minute later, Argentina again looked dangerous, but Menezes was quick to thwart Lombi and clear.

A goal down, the Indians stepped up the pace. A long scoop from the defence found Baljit Singh Saini in the clear. The midfilder, who had a good match, spilt the Argentina defence with a great pass to Bimal Lakra. But the last-named shot wide from close.

That chance came in the 21st minute. But it was not long before India were rewarded for their efforts. In the 23rd minute they forced the first penalty-corner of the game and Dilip Tirkey drove hard and true through the pads of goalkeeper Pablo Moreira for the equaliser (1-1).

However, India's joy was shortlived as Argentina struck again, from their first penalty-corner, in the 25th minute. Lombi's powerful flick went inches past the outstretched left palm of goalkeeper Menezes.

Three goals within a spell of six minutes and what a match. India strived hard for the equaliser but were forced to go into the breather down 1-2.

Immediately on resumption, Argentina were on target, with Lombi scoring in the 37th minute. His drag flick, again to the left of Menezes, saw the keeper moving to the wrong side (3-1).

India replaced Menezes with Devesh Chauhan in the 41st minute and immediately the young keeper was forced into action. To his credit he did well to save a stiff shot from Capurro.

India forced their second penalty-corner in the 46th minute and Daljit Singh Dhillon made the best of it, scoring from an indirect variation (2-3).

Two more penalty-corners followed immediately, but the Indians couldn't get the ball in.

In the 51st minute Lombi dribbled into the Indian cricle and forced a penalty-corner, but goalkeeper Chauhan did well to save his stiff shot. Hoeever, minutes later, Argentina forced another penalty-corner and Lombi's flick was bang on target (4-2).

The Indians did not give up and swarmed the rival goal. Crowding out tactics prevented them from splintering through till Paramjit Singh dribbled in and forced a penalty-corner in the 64th minute. A different variation saw Dhillon sweep home and keep the fight alive (3-4).

Thereafter, India pressed hard, but try as they did, couldn't break through the packed Argentina defence.

And just when it looked like India would finish with an honourable 3-4 defeat, Lombi struck much against the run of play to give Argentina a 5-3 victory.

Saturday's report