India thrash Scotland 7-1

Runners-up in the last edition of the tournament, India qualified for the second round in the seventh junior men's hockey World Cup, thrashing Scotland 7-1 in their second match of the tournament in Hobart, Australia, on Thursday.

Deepak Thakur scored four goals while Prabhjot Singh, Tejbir Singh and Kanwalpreet Singh scored one each. The lone Scottish goal came from Niall Stott just before the breather.

It was the fleet-footed Prabhjot Singh who opened the goal-glut for the Indians in the 10th minute, latching on to a pass from midfield and scoring with a stiff shot after advancing into the circle.

Then Thakur got the first of his four goals by deflecting home a cross from the left of the circle in the 23rd minute.

Two goals up the Indians, though a bit unsure in midfield, maintained the pressure and struck again from a penalty-corner in the 28th minute. Tejbir Singh's drag flick from an indirect variation found the net.

But Scotland hit back a minute later, scoring from a penalty-stroke after the Indians bodily obstructed a good Scottish move into the cricle. Naill Stott made no mistake from the spot.

In the second session, the Indians virtually toyed with the Scots and should have had more goals on the board but failed to make the best of the many penalty-corners they got. In fact, Tejbir's goal was the only goal that came from the six penalty-corners India forced in the match.

In the 40th minute, Kanwalpreet Singh made it 4-1 for India, converting a penalty-stroke.

Deepak Thakur then got into his scoring act and slammed a hat-trick with goals in the 51st, 58th and 68th minutes.

All three goals were brilliantly executed, with Thakur showing good reflexes to complete the finishing touches to quick moves down the middle.

India's concluding match in Pool C is against Spain on Friday. It will decide the top team of the pool.

Spain too good for Canada

Spain defeated Canada 6-1 to register their second victory in the first match of the day. With their second straight victory, Spain moved to the top of Pool C ahead of India, though both qualify for the next round.

Canada shot into an early lead in the 12th minute, when Graeme Sowerby deflected a cross into the right side of the goal but the Spainish team regrouped and earned two quick penalty-corners to put pressure back on Canada. Their efforts paid off when Alberto Sala scored the equaliser in 20th minute off a penalty-corner.

Two more goals by Eduard Tabau and Pablo Quemada in 23rd and 33rd minutes respectively saw Spain go into the half-time leading 3-1.

Spain added three more goals in the second half through Eduard Tabau, in 39th minute; Alberto Sala, in 40th, and Santiago Freixa, in 63rd minute, to complete the rout.

Germany edge past New Zealand

Germany edged past New Zealand 2-1 to qualify for the second round from Pool D in the third match of the day three.

Eike Duckwitz scored the first goal for Germany in 19th minute off their sixth penalty-corner.

New Zealand got the equaliser in 43rd minute, when Lloyd Stephenson deflected the ball he got from the penalty-corner push.

Timo Wess scored the winner for Germany in the 65th minute by converting their 10th penalty-corner.

Argentina defeat Malaysia

Argentina defeated Malaysia 5-0 in a Pool D match to keep their hopes alive. The defeat was a blow for Malaysia as they scummed to their second successive loss.

Malaysia were without their star player and captain Boon Huat Chua. Chua received a suspension for his inappropriate behaviour towards the officials after having received a yellow card during their match against New Zealand on Wednesday.

Argentina went into an early lead with a third minute goal from Lucas Cammareri.

They scored again from their second penalty-corner in 15th minute, when Marcelo Del Negro sounded the board. Captain Rodrigo Vila scored the third goal in the 26th minute.

Argentina struck early in the second half also. They were awarded a penalty-stroke for stick obstruction. Juan Garreta put the stroke low into the left side of the goalkeeper in the 37th minute to make it 4-0.

The fifth goal came in the 58th minute through Marcelo Del Negro.

Korea held by France

France made Korea work hard for a 1-1 draw in the fifth match of the day.

The first half of the match ended without a goal. The Koreans did earn five penalty-corners but could not convert any.

In the second half, the Koreans again wasted two more penalty-corners but it was France who took the lead in 49th minute thorugh a field goal from Antoine Gouedard-Comte.

Korea equalised in the 61st minute through Sung Yoon's goal.

Holland whip South Africa

In the last match of the day, the Netherlands proved too good for South Africa, winning 3-0.

It was Holland's first victory from two matches in Pool B.

Mathijs Van Weerd put the Netherlands ahead in the 26th minute, scoring from a pass by Weusthof.

On the stroke of half-time, Jeroen Koops scooped home a penalty-corner to make it 2-0.

On resumption, the Dutch were again in target, this time Roderick Weusthof scoring off a penalty-corner, the ball going into to goal off a defender's hand.

Thereafter, the Dutch relaxed but allowed the South Africans little leeway to break through their defence.

Complete Coverage: 7th Junior Men's World Cup 2001