COLOGNE: A last minute goal by Jagbir Singh enabled India to hold Germany 3-3 in the second hockey test at Blau Weiss club ground here Thursday.
The match who was played at a blistering pace saw a totally different Indian performance as against the first test which they lost 2-4 at Krefeld on Wednesday.
Indeed their show blossomed in the sunshine much to the delight of the capacity holiday crowd.
India made one change from the last match with C S Poonacha replacing Mohammed Arif while Germany played their first eleven making as many as six changes.
India took the lead in the 25th minute though it should have come earlier at least on two occasions. First it was Jagbir Singh failing with his dive after Dhanraj Pillay’s sweep push in the 11th minute. Five minutes later Pillay intercepted a Carsten Fisher free hit just outside the German 25-yard line and after side stepping the German captain set up Edgar Mascern has who pushed meekly.
India earned their first penalty comer when Jagbir Singh was obstructed by Ness Pargat Singh’s shot was deflected in by goalkeeper Knauth’s pads.
Stung by this reverse Germany shot back immediately with a fine run down by Andreas Becker on the left. Then Mulheim Winger who was the top scorer and best player of the junior world cup two years ago went on his own executing a powerful reverse shot which was carried by Pargat Singh leading to a penalty corner. Fisher’s scoop took the roof of the goal for the equalizer.
India began the second session with determination forcing three successive penalty comers. Pargat Sigh’s hit proved abortive first and then Mukesh Kumar failed on their bound. On the third occasion Shakeel Ahmed did not stop.
The Germans exploited the obstruction rule and with body played forced into the Indian circle a few times their tactics often went unnoticed by the two Dutch umpires as loud protests came from the Indian bench.
Germany took the lead in the 45th minute when Shakeel Ahmed committed an infringement. In came the powerfully built Fisher again to change the score line.
Indian custodian Mark Patterson brought off some fine saves first when he checked centre forward Deckinghaus and then his Mulheim club mate Meinhardt on the Right Wing.
The Indian midfielders played good constructive hockey Once again Jude Felix and Sukhjit Singh the two central Medios controlled the pace Sukhjit Singh in particular was outstanding with his robust tackles
However Shakeel Ahmed’s faulty tackling led to another penalty comer which was shot out by Fisher.
The Indians substituted Mascern has with Subodh Khandckar but he let go two good chances. Once he failed to connect a Mukesh Kumar pass in front of open goalmouth and on another occasion failed to intercept a Felix through ball with only Knauth to beat.
Germany increased the lead when Sven Mcinhardt broke loose on getting the ball from Metz tyo volley crisply from the edge of the circle.
The Indian team kept their cool. Although they were reduced to ten with Mukesh Kumar getting temporary suspension they created ripples in the German defence.
Time and again the defenders were beaten by elegant stick work and Jagbir Singh for once came into his own. He enthralled the opponents in the last seven minutes weaving around along with Pillay. He reduced the margin in the 63rd minute after trapping a sharp Pargat Singh shot to hit home first time.
He received a standing ovation when just before the final whistle he deflected Angeleus Belung cross with a spectacular dive that went past the hapless Knauth under the German bar.
Earlier Shakeel Ahmed brought off a goal line save to deny the Germans the second victory in the two-test series.
Chief Coach Balkrishan Singh expressed happiness about the team’s performance and added that India should have won but for some bad umpiring decision
German coach Paul Lissek commented that India played good hockey as they should be playing and was happy that Germany had a really tough game.
This will help us in preparing for the next month’s European championship at Paris headded. Indian lose opening tie.
KREFELD: The consistently inconsistent pattern of Indian game was very much in evidence again here Wednesday as its hockey team lost the first match of the German leg of European tour 2-4.
The Indians who had beaten Spain 2-1 in the first leg of the series just could not match the Germans in their style of play power and strength and faded away after trailing O-1 at halftime
For some inexplicable reasons the Indians known for their delicate stick work short passes and dribbles stepped up the pace instead of slowing it down an unpardonable mistake against their physically superior opponents.
To add to their own problems they abandoned positional play and their ball trapping and passing were utterly inadequate.
Indians have always performed well against the Germans as their numerous clashes in Olympics world cup champions’ trophy and other international tournaments would show. But Wednesday was just not their day
The Germans dominated the proceedings right from the word go and always looked like getting a goal. But they had to wait all the 33rd minute before taking the lead. This came through a penalty comer after Salinger was ‘fouled’ by Shakeel in the striking circle. Custodian Mark Patterson was helpless against the perfect comer shot by Carsten Fischer.
India earned only one penalty corner in the first session as against three by Germany But Skipper Pargat Singh’s effort was nullified by the German defence.
Germany enhanced their lead after the change of ends as night Back Tewes worked his way up in a counter-attack. He went past Pargat Singh and set up hilgers who volleyed beautifully in to make it 2-0.
Stung by the second goal India swung into attack through a Dhanraj Pillay-Mukesh Kumar Duet in the 54th minute. The Bombay Winger dodged three defenders and Mukesh’s crisp shot brooked no answer from goal keeper Breuer.
The German lead was reduced but not their steam they counterattacked immediately and cared a penalty corer as Pargat Singh who had a poor match took the ball on his foot. The hosts went in for a variation this time with tewes executing a dummy and sweeper back Fischer shooting to Patterson is right to make it 3-1.
Though tiring fast, the Indians fought on gamely and reduced the margin for the second time through good stick work by Edgar Mascaren has on the left flank. After doing all the ground work, Mascaren has put the ball across to his Bombay team mate Pillay | whose brilliant effort took the German defence by surprise.
The Germans completed their tally when Saliger took advantage of a defence lapse by Poonacha and Belung.
Article extracted from this publication >> June 7, 1991
