HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AUSTRALIA-INDIA MATCH.




Initials RM/VS/MR/PC


SPORT: HOCKEY

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THE AUSTRALIAN HOCKEY TEAM, WHICH DEFEATED THE OLYMPIC CHAMPIONS INDIA 2 -1 IN THEIR SEMI-FINALS MATCH IN MEXICO CITY ON THURSDAY, FAILED TO TAKE THE GOLD MEDAL BY LOSING TO PAKISTAN 2 - 1 IN THE FINALS TODAY (SATURDAY). PAKISTAN TAKES THE GOLD MEDAL, AUSTRALIA THE SILVER AND INDIA THE BRONZE.

IN THEIR SEMI-FINAL MATCH, INDIA TOOK THE LEAD AGAINST THE RUN OF PLAY IN THE 14TH MINUTE WITH A PENALTY STROKE CONVERTED BY RIGHT HALF BALBIR SERVICES. THE AUSTRALIANS EXERTED TREMENDOUS PRESSURE IN THE FIRST 10 MINUTES AND CAME NEAR TO SCORING THREE TIMES.

INDIA'S GOAL RESULTED FROM A LONG CORNER INCIDENT. INSIDE LEFT INDER TRAPPED THE BALL NEATLY AND FILCHED IT HEAD HIGH TOWARDS THE NET WHERE AUSTRALIAN RIGHT BACK JIM MASON HAD TO USE HIS ARM TO STOP IT GOING IN. SERVICES STEPPED UP TO THE PENALTY SPOT AND SCORED.

AUSTRALIA MOVED BACK ON THE ATTACK AT THE START OF THE SECOND HALF AND STAYED THERE UNTIL THE END, WITH INDIA SCARCELY ABLE TO MOUNT ONE DANGEROUS OFFENSIVE. THE AUSTRALIANS, CAPITALISING ON THEIR GREAT PHYSICAL FITNESS, NOW HAD THE CHAMPIONS SEVERELY RATTLED. THEY EARNED TWO PENALTY CORNERS IN THE SPACE OF TWO MINUTES.

THE SECOND CORNER, AWARDED WHEN PRITHIFAL'S CLEARANCE IN THE CIRCLE HIT AN AUSTRALIAN IN THE CHEST, BROUGHT THE EQUALISER, GLENCROSS HAMMERED THE BALL LOW AGAINST THE BACK BOARDS. PINNED IN THEIR OWN HALF, THE INDIANS WERE FORCED TO CONCEDE YET ANOTHER PENALTY CORNER WITH ONLY FOUR MINUTES TO GO, GIVING AUSTRALIA THEIR CHANCE TO ACHIEVE ONE OF THE GREAT SURPRISES IN OLYMPIC HOCKEY HISTORY.