Poland down India, qualify

Kuldeep Singh

Poland survived a solid second half onslaught to get the better of India 2-1 and qualify for the 2002 men's World Cup hockey finals in Kuala Lumpur.

The victory in the concluding classification match of Pool F also gave the East Europeans a place in the semi-finals -- along with Argentina, Spain and Belgium -- in the ongoing World Cup qualifier, at the Peffermil stadium in Edinburgh, Scotland, on Wednesday.

India, who played their hearts out and should have won handsomely but for a brave display by Polish goalkeeper Pobuta, finished third in the pool ahead of Japan and will now have to play for the fifth to eighth positions, where they take on Canada. A victory in that match will give them a place among the seven from this 16-team qualifier in the World Cup finals.

In the semi-finals on Friday, Poland will meet Spain while Argentina take on Belgium.

At the Sydney Olympics, it was Poland who denied the Indians a place in the semi-finals, scoring a last-minute goal in a 1-1 draw. They did it again on Wednesday, though this time around it was they who took the lead twice much against the run of play and doggedly held on to it.

India were stunned by a third minute goal even before they could settle down, when Juszczak flicked past goalkeepr Devesh Chauhan off the first penalty-corner. However, India did well to restore parity in the 12th minute. Samir Dad broke into the circle following a clearance from the Indian half and, with a neat through, found Bipin Fernandez, who advanced alone and slammed home.

The pace got hectic thereafter with Poland always looking for the quick break. And they regained the lead in the 22nd minute from a counter offensive much against the run of play. A long clearance saw Thomasz Choczaj deflect home a cross as goalkeepr Chauhan came rushing out.

India once again paid the penalty for leaving gaps in their defence and playing too deep in the Poland half. They had a couple of good chances later, but Dilip Tirkey and Baljit Singh Dhillon's shots were well-saved by goalkeeper Pobuta.

India came back into the second session with renewed vigour and stormed the Polish defence repeatedly. In fact, they camped in the rival circle for 15 minutes during a frenzied attacking spell which saw them force five penalty-corners -- four in succession -- but goalkeeper Pobuta stood between them and a goal.

The domination in the second session was such that the Poles hardly had a look at goal. With time ticking off, the whole Poland team was defending in their half as the Indians laid seize, but Baljit Singh Dhillon, Tirkey and Dad saw their efforts go in vain.

Earlier, Spain and Belgium drew 1-1 in the concluding match of Pool E to respectively take the top two positions and qualify for the semi-finals. The two teams joined Argentina in the 2002 World Cup finals.

A fine effort by New Zealand, which saw them beat Canada 5-3 in the first match of the day's proceedings, thus went in vain. The Kiwis and Canada finished third and fourth in Pool E and will now have to play for the fifth to eighth positions.

Santi Freixa put the Spaniards ahead in the 31st minute from a penalty-corner. His drag flick went past Belgian 'keeper Vincent Deneumostier and sounded the board.

Belgium had a couple of clear chances but Spanish 'keeper Bernardino Herrera thwarted their efforts with good saves.

Jean Willems restored parity for the Belgians in the 52nd minute. From a penalty-croner, he fought off a tackle to slam home a rebound after the keeper had padded his own shot.

In an earlier match, Argentina completed their engagements in Pool E of the classification stage, thrashing Japan 5-2.

After a goalless first-half, Argentina slammed in five goals between the 53rd and 63rd minutes as they virtually toyed with the Japs. Jorge Lombi scored two of those goals to take his tally to 15 while Almada got a brace and Vila one.

For Japan, Tobita got both the goals, the first a field goal (66th minute) and the second from a penalty-stroke almost at the final whistle.

In other classification matches, Egypt beat the United States 2-1 in Pool H while Wales and Russia drew 2-2 in Pool G.