Lombi's 'trick' lays Poland low

Kuldeep Singh

Argentina's goal machine Jorge Lombi stole the limelight for the second successive day in the men's World Cup hockey qualifier at the Peffermill stadium on Monday.

On Sunday, the veteran penalty-corner specialist scored four goals in a 5-3 demolition of India. Monday was the same story as he scored a hat-trick as Argentina came from a goal in arrears to rout Poland 4-1 in their second match in Pool F and make sure of a berth in the 2002 World Cup in Kuala Lumpur.

Lombi now has 13 goals from five games, 11 of which have come from penalty-corners.

As the scoreline indicates, Argentina were streets ahead of their rivals though they took time to assert themselves.

In a fast-paced first half, Poland dominated the early part. They should have been a goal to the good in the fifth minute but P Mikula failed to beat goalkeeper Pablo Moreira in a one-on-one situation. However, they were rewarded for the sustained pressure in the 12th minute when, from their first penalty-corner, Juszczak Zbigniew found the net with a lovely flick past a hapless Moreira.

But as is their wont, Argentina gradually got back into the match and restored parity in the 31st minute from a penalty-corner. From an indirect variation, Santiago Capurro found Lombi, who, in a flash, flicked to keeper Marcin Pobuta's stick side and into the goal for his 11th goal of the tournament.

Mario Almada put Argentina ahead in the 54th minute after breaking past a host of defenders and slipping the ball past goalkeeper Pobuta.

Argentina continued to call the shots and struck again three minutes later. This time from a penalty-stroke after Rodrigo Vila was brought down inside the circle. Lombi completed the formalities with a neat, low flick for his second goal of the match and 12th of the tournament.

The goal machine was again on target in the 63rd minute after himself forcing a penalty-corner. His flick to the right of the keeper brooked no answer once again as he completed a hat-trick and, in the process, swelled his personal goal tally to 13.

Poland have just a solitary point from two matches in Pool F, after a goalless draw against Japan on Sunday. They meet India in their concluding match of the group on Thursday.

On Tuesday, India take on Japan in their second match of the pool, desperately needing a victory to stay in the race for a berth in the World Cup.

In an earlier match, in Pool E, Belgium beat Canada by a solitary second half goal to move to the top of the pool.

Belgium scored immediately on resumption in the second session following a defensive lapse in the Canada defence. Robin D'Abreo was dispossessed by Vitali Kholopov, who broke away and centered into the circle for Patrick Glerts to trap and push into an unmanned goal.

In Pool G, Russia beat Bangladesh 5-0 after leading by a goal at the breather, while in Pool H, France got the better of the United States 2-1. They led 1-0 at helf-time.

Sunday's report