BY TERRY MADDAFORD
In New Delhi
England are the first cab off the semifinals rank at the Hero Honda World Cup semifinals.
The 3-2 win over India in the last of the three day seven group B matches yesterday assured the English, fifth at the last World Cup, of their spot in the top four. It is the first time since 1986, when they were beaten 2-1 by Australia in the final in London, that England have reached the semifinals.
Despite their late rally, after being 0-2 down, India slumped to their third straight loss after their stunning 4-1 win over Pakistan in the opening round and, much to their fervent supporter’s chagrin, will now be playing off for the crumbs -- at best for 7th/8th..
Pakistan were also upset, beaten 4-3 by bottom-placed South Africa, as the horror run for the Asian neighbours continued.
Australia, 2-0 winners over Spain in the early game, are certain to join England in the semifinals unless they lose tomorrow’s final pool match against Pakistan by “a million.” That won’t happen.
Australia escaped unscathed in their battle with Spain. But with any success from the eight penalty corners they failed to convert, Spain could have embarrassed the Kookaburras. It took the Green and Golds 20 minutes to break the deadlock when penalty corner expert Luke Doerner stepped forward to convert after his team had blown three chances from open play in the first three minutes.
It was Doerner’s sixth such strike of the World Cup.
The Spanish had their chances. They missed one PC early and three in the last 10 minutes of the first spell. After Doerner had hit the post from another corner in the 46th minute, a well-worked field goal finished by Glenn Turner on the hour stretched the lead to 2-0.
But, in failing to find the back of the Australian goal from that hatful of penalty corner opportunities, Spain blew any winning chance.
Pakistan scored first and last against South Africa but that was not enough.
A Rehan Butt field goal after five minutes gave Pakistan the early lead. There was no further scoring in the first half but in seven minutes after the break, the South Africans went on the rampage.
A Gareth Carr penalty corner followed by an Ian Haley field goal, a spectacular diving effort from Taine Paton, and confirmed by the video umpire and a Marvin Harper goal from open play stunned the Pakistanis as they fell 1-4 behind.
Stung, they rallied but a late Muhammad Imran drag flick and another penalty corner conversion -- three minutes after the scheduled 70 minutes -- from Waseem Ahmed was not enough and the Africans held on for their first win of the tournament.
The late game was watched by the biggest crowd of the night as vibrant Indian supporters turned out.
They went quiet after 16 minutes when James Tindall capitalised on a great cross from Nick Catlin to open the scoring. Ahead by that one goal at halftime, England were soon 3-0 ahead as Ashley Jackson dragged home from a 42nd minute penalty corner and, five minutes later, Catlin scored from the field.
Down, but far from out and continuing to play some attractive hockey, the Indians charged back. A well-worked cross from Gurbaj Singh was sent into the England goal by Gurwinder Singh Chandi for 3-1 and seven minutes later it was the Singh show as Shivenda found Sarvanjit who in turn set up Rajpal for the final strike and 2-3.
The hosts had another great chance in the last minute -- when down to nine players -- but just missed.
England, unbeaten, head the group with the maximum 12 points -- three ahead of Australia who play Pakistan in their final pool match.
England will be happy to rest some of their hard-working players --they are already without key defender Richard Mantell who is out with a broken leg -- but will still be aware to finish top they need at least a point as Australia, with an infinitely better goal difference, could overtake them at the top if they fall to Pakistan.
ENDS
