New Delhi: Stretched to the limit by Canada, India on Saturday managed to register a 3-2 win in their second roundrobin Pool C match of the Junior Hockey World Cup here and pick up three vital points.
Drag-flicker Gurjinder Singh was the saviour, finding the net in the 69th minute to save the hosts, who at one stage seemed on their way out of the tournament.
They now must beat Korea in their final Pool C encounter on December 10, to advance to the next stage.
Holland, the other team in their pool, earlier posted a hard-fought 3-2 win over Korea to collect six points from two matches. A third minute reverse -Sukhi Panesar stunned the home defence -put India under extreme pressure. The team took the attack route, but lacked cohesion and plan ning. The figures represented a different picture: India had ball possession for almost 80 per cent of the opening half, and made close to 16-17 forays into the Canadian Dee as opposed to the rivals’ two attempts.
But there was no purpose in their attack, or calm in their approach.
In short, they were school boys up against a professional team, who on paper were ranked way below them.
India coach Gregg Clark spoke of character ahead of the tournament, but it was clearly in short supply on the day.
The penalty corners too came India’s way, but it was only a Mandeep Singh (30th minute) deflection off the third one that fetched hosts the equaliser.
Canada got a whiff of the Indian Dee only twice in the opening half, but they ensured the charging Indians were kept quiet.
The team defended with eight players.
