By Sakyasen Mittra
Bhubaneswar, Dec 14: The ‘oomph factor’ – that is what makes life interesting – definitely goes missing when two losing semifinalists contest for the third position. The effect of missing a place in the final is so depressing that the motivation to do well disappears. Australia and India were no exceptions when they played in the third-fourth place game at the Kalinga Stadium here Sunday. The Men in Blue went down 1-2 to Australia to finish fourth.
Even the spectators seemed to have lost the wind out of their sails. They cheered, but then lacked passion that was so evident in earlier matches. On the field, both sides gave it their all, but even if the body was willing, the mind didn’t respond. As a result, the speed that is evident in modern hockey at present was absent from for the major part of the tie.
Coach Roelant Oltmans had stated before the tournament that he would be satisfied with a fourth-place finish. The bronze, however, was there for the taking, keeping in mind India’s recent track record against Australia. The factor worrying, however, is India’s tendency of conceding late goals. In five of the six matches, they conceded goals with five minutes to go on the clock. It is a pointer to the lack of concentration that hits the side. The Aussies also took advantage of this, the only difference being the winning goal scored by Matt Gohdes came in the 54th minute of the tie.
The Aussies were definitely the better side on the day. They created more chances with man of the match Jacob Whetton playing an outstanding game on the right side of the pitch running rings around the Indian defence. Whetton had an influential role in the first goal also. Finding a through ball from skipper Eddie Ockenden, the winger drew the entire Indian defenders towards him with some lovely stick work. With PR Sreejesh coming out of his charge, Whetton feinted a shot that forced a dive from the Indian custodian. Whetton returned the ball to an unmarked Ockenden, who scored with a firm push.
The Indians really did not create too many chances save the fourth quarter. They got their equaliser through Lalit Upadhaya who struck the board after SV Uthappa had done the spadework. Immediately after, SV Sunil and Akashdeep Singh had chances to put the match away, but missed easy sitters with only Andrew Charter to beat under the Aussie bar. They paid for their profligacy later in the game.
With Sardar Singh having an uncommon off day, the Indians did not look like threatening the Aussie defence where Chris Ciriello played a brilliant game. Upfront, along with Whetton, the darting runs of Russell Ford created a lot of problems for the Indians. Only the efforts of Sreejesh, kept down the margin of victory for Australia to a bare minimum.