India come back twice to split points with South Africa to end fourth in Group B in World Cup.

By Soumitra Bose

After 'Chak De' failed to inspire India at the National Stadium, an Oscar-winning track from a popular Hindi movie could not lift India’s fortunes in the World Cup on Monday night. The best that 'Jai ho' could do was help India split honours with South Africa in a pacy encounter that finished 3-3. 

Leading 2-1 at halftime, India came back twice in a well-contested second half against the Rainbow nation that came to Delhi with modest aspirations. The result left India fourth in group B with four points (a win and a draw) from five matches. The hosts will now contest for the seventh and eighth places and whatever be the position, it will be an improvement from the 11th finish in the 2006 World Cup at Monchengladbach (Germany).

Australia finished on top of group B after their 2-1 win against Pakistan in the second match on Monday. The Champions Trophy winners finished level on points with England, who lost their first pool match against Spain. But Ric Charlesworth’s team finished No. 1 because of a better goal-difference than the English.

Pakistan finished sixth and South Africa fifth in this group. Pakistan will now play for the 11th and 12th positions, a huge disappointment for the four-time world champions and still considered an Asian superpower. 

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India and South Africa locked horns with contrasting intentions. The African champions have been a happy-go-lucky unit in the tournament. In spite of conceding a record dozen goals against Australia, they have attacked with gusto and even surprised Pakistan. On Monday night, the Proteas were no different.

In the 8th minute, Lloyd Norris-Jones breached the Indian defence with a free run from the 25-yard line and slammed in past Adrian D’Souza. Jones’ speed and dexterity left the Indian defence in shambles.

India settled down quickly and Shivender Singh played game-maker. Having an innovative passer galvanized the rest of the strikeline. This kept the South African defence under pressure. India equalized in the 17th minute, Sarvanjit Singh capping a three-man move involving two seniors, Arjun Halappa and Prabhjot Singh.

Shivender set up India’s second goal in the 23rd minute. After failing to trap cleanly India’s second penalty corner push, Shivender made amends with a smart turn and set up Diwakar Ram for a free and direct strike at the South African goal (2-1).

South Africa made it 2-2, courtesy Justin Reid-Ross in the 39th minute. It was an indirect penalty corner conversion after D’Souza did well to save the first hit from South Africa’s second penalty corner.

India had a 47th minute goal by Sarvanjit rejected after the umpire at the other end stopped play due to an infringement. But the South Africans made good their fourth short corner in the 48th minute. Skipper Austin Smith hit the top of the net, a copybook finish that D’Souza had no answer to.

Down 3-2 and egged on by a 14000-strong crowd, India pressed for the equalizer. Prabhjot missed a sitter and twice the South African goalie Jonathan Robinson came to his team’s rescue with brilliant anticipation.

It was in the fitness of things that Shivender put his name on the scoresheet with four minutes left on the clock. A Tushar Khandekar cross generated a goalmouth melee and Shivender’s enterprise got the better of the South African defenders.

The 3-3 scoreline was the perfect reflection of a game that produced good quality hockey. The Indian team finally had some reason to smile but the crowd still wondered if 'All Izz Well' with our hockey!

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