Australia rout India 8-0
Luke Doerner and Jason Wilon slammed two goals each as power-packed
Australia wiped out India 8-0 to win their fourth successive
Commonwealth Games men’s field hockey gold here on Thursday.
The world champions dominated the home team right through the
lop-sided final played before a packed crowd at the sun-baked Major
Dhyan Chand stadium.
The Aussies have now finished on top in each edition of the Games
since the sport was introduced in Kuala Lumpur in 1998.
The victory also completed an unprecedented hat-trick of winning the
World Cup, Champions Trophy and Commonwealth gold in the same year for
Ric Charlesworth’s men.
Also, it was the second time in a year that Australia crowned
themselves with glory here, after having won the World Cup at the same
venue in March. Australian captain Jamie Dwyer said the conditions
played a big part in the final outcome of the match.
“They had not played in this heat before in the tournament,” he said.
“They played all their games in the evening when it is at least cooler
by 15 degrees. I think that made a huge difference.
“The match was probably closer than the scoreline reflects. We are
thrilled to go home with the gold in our kitty.”
For the Indians, who have not won a major tournament since their
Asian Games gold in 1998, it was their first podium finish in the Games.
While the Aussies hugged each other in joy, the sombre Indian players
went on a lap of the ground to show their gratitude to the patient crowd
with a banner reading “Thank you all for your kind support”. Doerner
finished the tournament as the highest scorer with eight goals.
The first-half saw a keen tussle between the teams to control the
ball but it was the Aussies who surged into the lead in the 19th minute
with Jason Wilson hammering one in from the left of the box.
The Aussies made it 2-0 two minutes later through Chris Ciriello
before Wilson scored his second goal and Doerner slammed in his double
in the 34th and 52nd minutes.
Simon Orchard made it 6-0 while Dwyer and Glenn Turner also joined in
the goal-fest to cap a miserable outing for the hosts, ranked number
nine in the world.
The Indians seemed to have no answers to the Australian assault and
hardly threatened their defence.
“We played the first 15 minutes well but after that they struck two
goals and we came under pressure,” said India’s Arjun Halappa. NEW
DELHI, AFP
|