It was another stunning day of action at the Commonwealth Games, where India made the headlines by defeating England on penalty strokes to set up a Gold Medal match against World Champions Australia.
In front of another huge crowd, India bounced back from a 3-1 deficit to force extra time and penalty strokes in a match that will go down in history as one of the best ever to take place in Commonwealth Games hockey. After two successful stroke conversions for both teams, Glenn KIRKHAM (ENG) stepped up for England. But goalkeeper Bharat Kumar CHETRI (IND) picked the direction correctly, and prevented KIRKHAM scoring. With the remaining stroke-takers successful for both sides, India sucured a place in the final much to the delight of the 20,000 spectators in the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium.
Earlier in the day, The Australian Men’s Hockey team saw off Trans Tasman rivals New Zealand of secure their place in Thursday's Gold medal match. Although the Kookaburras will be strong favourites for the Gold Medal, the Indian team are full of confidence and will be hoping not to settle for Silver in front of their home crowd.
More information about the day's matches can be found below.
Men's Semi Finals
Semi-Final 1: Australia 6-2 New Zealand
Australia took longer than in previous games to score, thanks in part to some great goalkeeping from Kyle PONTIFEX (NZL). But Simon ORCHARD (AUS) and Glenn TURNER (AUS) did net in the 25th and 28th minutes, before Jason WILSON (AUS) added his name to the scoresheet before half-time for a 3-0 lead. Des ABBOTT (AUS) opened the second-half scoring with a goal in the 43rd minute. But the Black Sticks fought back with goals from Blair HILTON (NZL) and captain Phil BURROWS (NZL) to reduce the deficit to two in Australia's favour. But the Kookaburras responded with ORCHARD and TURNER completing scoring doubles for a 6-2 win and a berth in the Gold medal match on Thursday. New Zealand will contest the Bronze medal match.
Semi-Final 2: India 3-3 England [5-4]
India have won a berth in the Gold medal match after defeating England in penalty
strokes in Tuesday evening’s semifinal. India took a 1-0 lead thanks to Saravanjit SINGH who tapped in a penalty corner from close range, before Ashley JACKSON netted two stunning set pieces either side of half time to give England the advantage. Simon MANTELL added another penalty corner to make the score 1-3, and JACKSON slammed an effort against the cross-bar which surely would have killed the contest. However, India - inspired by their wildly passionate home fans - bounced back with field goals from Sardar SINGH and Vikram PILLAY to tie the scores at 3-3 at the end of normal time.
Neither side was able to score a golden goal in the two periods of extra time. After two successful stroke conversions for both teams, Glenn KIRKHAM (ENG) stepped up for England. But goalkeeper Bharat Kumar CHETRI (IND) picked the direction correctly, and prevented KIRKHAM scoring. With the remaining stroke-takers successful for both sides, India won the challenge.
Classification matches
9-10: Scotland 7-0 Trinidad and Tobago
Scotland and Trinidad and Tobago played Tuesday’s opening match, the classification game to decide the men’s ninth and 10th positions. Scotland, who were yet to score a goal heading in to the match, finally found their scoring touch to net seven to overwhelm the Carribeans. Cameron FRASER (SCO) opened the scoring for Scotland in the 13th minute, and two minutes later Niall STOTT (SCO) found the net from a penalty corner for a 2-0 half-time advantage. It only took four minutes of the second half for captain Christopher NELSON (SCO) to make it 3-0. William MARSHALL (SCO) also got in on the goalscoring action, and an Alan FORSYTH (SCO) goal split a double for Kenneth BAIN (SCO). At 7-0, Scotland finished in ninth position, ahead of Trinidad and Tobago in 10th.
5-6: Pakistan 2-3 South Africa
With South Africa and Pakistan locked 2-2 at full-time, a penalty corner golden goal by Justin REID-ROSS (RSA) in the 75th minute confirmed his team’s fifth-place ranking at the Games. Rehan BUTT (PAK) scored in the 28th and 53rd minutes to give Pakistan a 2-0 lead. But REID-ROSS scored from a penalty corner in the 55th minute to haul South Africa back into the game at 2-1 down. Gareth CARR (RSA) also converted a penalty corner seven minutes later to make it 2-2, and send the game into extra-time. Then came REID-ROSS's extra time goal to secure fifth place for South Africa. Pakistan finished the competition in sixth position.
7-8: Malaysia 2-3 Canada
Canada ended its tournament in winning fashion when Jesse WATSON (CAN) slid home a field goal in the sixth minute of extra time against Malaysia. A back and forth affair saw the Canadians take an early lead off the stick of Adam FROESE (CAN) before Malaysia equalised through a Muhamad Amin RAHIM (MAS) penalty corner conversion. Canada put itself back ahead with a deflection from Iain SMYTHE (CAN), but another converted penalty corner, this time by Hafifihafiz HANAFI (MAS) on the stroke of halftime tied the teams at 2-2. After a scoreless second half, a yellow card to Baljit Singh CHARUN SINGH (MAS) in the second minute of extra time left Malaysia a man down, and Canada was able to capitalise through WATSON.
All official tournament information including match sheets, starting line-ups, tables and scorers can be found on the Commonwealth Games Results Website by clicking here.
Source material: Commonwealth Games News Service
