Mens Hockey Champions League

[Dakink]

Good to see the Aussie men are keeping up the standard!

India steals limelight in Chennai
11 Dec 2005 18:21


Australia leads the way, but it was India?s night on day two of the Sahara Hockey Champions Trophy in Chennai.

The home team produced a breathtaking comeback against arch rival Pakistan after their campaign looked in tatters with 13 minutes remaining.

Sandeep Singh was the architect of the revival, steering his side from a 2-0 deficit to a memorable victory in front of a boisterous large home crowd.

Singh?s successive penalty corner bullets in the final acts of the match, the second with less than three minutes remaining, put the seal on a clash that curiously lacked the skills and verve of past clashes in the opening half.

Australia maintained their perfect record and have opened a gap on the chasing teams, with each nation having secured at least a point after two rounds.

The Kookaburras withstood Spain?s first half challenge - including Santi Frexa?s brilliant stick work to create his second goal ? before controlling most of the second half to send a warning to the challengers.

The Olympic champions are not playing with the consistency that coach Barry Dancer is demanding, but they are still looking like the team to beat early in the tournament.

The touch of Roderick Weusthof and the speed of Teun de Nooijer looked like being enough for the Dutch to dispose of European neighbours Germany in the final match. However a lapse in the final seven minutes allowed Germany back into the match to the disappointment of Dutch coach Roelant Otmans.

In a match of limited chances, the Netherlands led late into the match but they gave Germany a glimpse of hope which they exploited to force a draw.

Australia lead the pack with six points from two rounds, followed by the Netherlands on four and India and Spain on three. Germany and Pakistan (in particular), need a win in their next match if they are to reach the tournament?s decider on Sunday night.

The tournament enters a rest day tomorrow before action resumes with the third round on Tuesday.

[Dakink]

Tue 13 Dec

Netherlands : Spain 3:2 (1:0)

India : Australia 1:4 (1:4)

Pakistan : Germany 4:4 (3:2)

Aus still looking good for the final!!

Standings

Aus - 9 pts +8
Ned - 7 pts +4
INd - 3 pts -3
Spa - 3 pts - 2
Ger - 2 pts - 4
Pak - 1 pt - 5

[Steelers]

We beat the Netherlands 3-2 to make the final.