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| December 14, 2001 | Friday | Ramazan 28, 1422 |
S. Africa face India in final
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 13: South Africa will play India in Saturday’s Champions Challenge final after breaking the local fans hearts with a 1-0 win over Malaysia.
Needing all three points to book their place in the last two, South Africa scrapped through with a 41st minute goal from Mike Cullen.
The South Africans had the most chances in the first half where they forced five penalty corners but none found their way past Roslan Jamaluddin in the Malaysian goal.
Knowing that the clock was against them, South Africa came out for the second half on fire as they pegged the Malaysians in their own half.
Their pressure finally told in the 41st minute.
They worked a penalty corner around the Malaysian defence and Cullen stole in from the blind side to slot the ball home for the only goal of the match.
South African goalie Chris Hibbert was also in stunning form to deny Malaysia the equaliser which would have sent them to the final.
Earlier, India displayed their erratic form before finally defeating Argentina 2-1 to seal their place in Saturday’s decider.
Brilliant in their approach play, India’s forwards however muffed countless chances to score a bigger win.
Argentina stunned India when they took the lead in the 15th minute off their third corner of the match.
Tomas Mac Cormick took the push out to Jorge Lombi. With the Indian defence expecting Lombi to shoot, the forward instead pushed the ball back to Mac Cormick who rammed it home from an acute angle.
India responded in magnificent style, rallying into attack and came close on three occasions in quick succession.
The reason behind India’s surge forward can be pinned down to one man - Baljit Singh Dhillion.
The skipper took command of the midfield as India began to take the game by the scruff of the neck.
Baljit was spraying the ball to both flanks, switching play time and again to create opportunities for his team.
The equaliser finally arrived in the 26th minute off a penalty corner.
Jugraj Singh’s shoulder high flick from the top of the semi-circle sailed in as a bemused Pablo Moreira dived in vain.
The 2,000-odd crowd who came to cheer the Indians on erupted with joy. That joy was soon to turn into ecstasy two minutes from the break.
A sweeping ball out of defence saw the Indians exchange six one touch passes as they split the Argentine defence to present Gagan Ajit Singh with the simplest of chances which he converted to give his team the lead.
A minute later, India could have wrapped it up when Baljit’s overhead flick from inside his 30m line was chased down by Dhanraj Pillay.
The dashing forward weaved his way past two defenders but his goal bound shot was padded away by a diving Moreira.
If the fans thought that India would continue their attacking style in the second half, they were mistaken.
The former world champions were more than happy to see back and hit Argentina on the break.
It was a ploy that nearly worked in the opening minutes of the second but once again their forwards’ inept finishing let India down.
Argentina soon took control of the match with Baljit playing a more defensive role.
This allowed the Argentinian midfield to find the space to create chances but their final ball into the semi-circle was a let down.
“I don’t think it was a question of us playing defensively. It was because two of our players were sent to the sin-bin at different times which resulted in us playing with 10 men for long periods of time,” said Indian coach Cedric d’Souza.
“To me, besides the win, I was most satisfied with the teamwork of the players as I have often said teamwork is better than individual skill.
“Everyone played their part today so I have no complaints.”
Japan 6 Belgium 2
India 2 Argentina 1
South Africa 1 Malaysia 0
Standings
( tabulated under played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points):
India 5 3 1 1 9 5 10
South Africa 5 3 1 1 9 7 10
Argentina 5 3 0 2 10 8 9
Malaysia 5 3 0 2 6 4 9
Japan 5 2 0 3 10 10 6
Belgium 5 0 0 5 3 13 0
Saturday’s fixture: (Playoff 5th/6th places) Japan v Belgium; (Playoff 3rd/4th places) Argentina v Malaysia; (Playoff 1st/2nd places): India v South Africa—Reuters
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