Disastrous start by India, go down 0-2 to New Zealand

Boom, Belgium, June 23 (UNI) India started their campaign on a disastrous note as they conceded a couple of goals in the fag end of the game to go down 0-2 to New Zealand in the opening match of the Champions Challenge Hockey tournament here today.

On a rain-soaked turf, the Indians did everything except scoring while the Kiwis captalised on the chances that came their way in the 62nd and 69th minute to start the tournament with full points.

Playing under intermittent rain, New Zealand who dominated the second session took the lead when veteran Hayden Shaw, with a rasping flick, beat goal keeper Adrian D'souza all ends up (1-0), and then seven minutes later the Kiwis snuffed out the whatever Indian resistance was left when Dave Kosoof took advantage of a defensive lapse to shot home the second goal (2-0).

The Indians just could not get their act together under the conditions. They found it hard to get into the groove under the rainy conditions while the Kiwis seemed enjoying it.

The Indians earned two penalty corners one in each half but both were muffed as goal keeper Kyle Pontifex who stood Sandeep Singh and the goal.

The first penalty corner for India came in the 11th minute but Sandeep's flick to the left side of the goal was superbly deflected by Pontifex.

And in the 52nd minute, India earned second penalty corner and this time Sandeep flicked to the right was again foiled by the Kiwi custodian.

The Indians flattered to decieve as they started on aggressive note but could not sustain the tempo.

In the first session, India had more share of the ball but the forwards could not get past the crowded defence.

Tushar Khandekar, Gurbaj, Roshan Minz, Sardar Singh were all found wanting at crucial moments.

Two minutes before the breather, India had a chance to surge ahead but Roshan Minz muffed up.

Rain forced the match to be stopped for few minutes after the breather but as the game started the Indians again went on the offensive without much success.

The Kiwis after being under pressure for over 38 minutes retailated and the Indian defence suddenly came under pressure.

As the Indians rushed back to beef up their defence, the Kiwis took over the mid field and after that they started dicating the proceedings.

With veteran Hayden Shaw, Bevan Hari, Ryan Archibald and Bryce Collins getting their acts together the Indians began feeling the heat.

The defence suddenly became brittle and tentative despite Dilip Tirkey and Sandeep Singh putting up a good display.

The Kiwis, finding it hard to get through the crowded defence, tried to earn penalty corners and they succeeded in their ploy as they earned three of them in a space of four minutes and they took the lead off the last one.

The Indians had a chance to equalise in the 68th minute but Bharat Chhikara's shot wide off the target and next minute New Zealand struck again to seal the match in the favour.

UNI