AMSTERDAM, 20 August 2003 — Australia dealt a savage blow to India’s Champions Trophy hopes yesterday by clinching a 4-1 win with Grant Schubert grabbing a hat trick. Australia attacked relentlessly for the first quarter, pressuring India’s defense, and gaining good possession inside India’s circle.
Later, Pakistan twice rallied to hold rampaging the Netherlands 2-2. After falling to a fifth minute de Noooijer strike, Pakistan drew level in the 28th minute through Abbas. The Dutch side took the lead again in the 59th minute through Taekema, but Jawad canceled out the lead seven minutes later and then soaked up the pressure to share the points.
India had little midfield possession and what little they achieved was squandered. Brent Livermore had a chance to put Australia ahead with a penalty stroke awarded when Adam Commen’s drive at goal from the top of the circle was stopped by the foot of Kanwalpreet Singh. However, Devesh Chauhan saved Livermore’s stroke on his left pad at the right post.
Gagan Ajit Singh and Bimal Lakral then had sharp chances in front of Australia’s goal but their hurried shots in the last 10 minutes went wide. Grant Schubert put Australia on the board after 34 minutes with a flick into the middle of the net from a movement crafted by Troy Elder along the left. Australia sped to a 3-0 lead within 12 minutes of the restart with another goal by Grant Schubert and Troy Elder converting a second penalty stroke.
Schubert’s second goal came from a rapid transition of possession from right to left across the top of the circle for Paul Gaudoin to find Schubert at the left post to score behind Devesh in the 44th minute.
Devesh conceded the second penalty two minutes later when the ball lodged between his legs and he closed them on the ball as he sat on the pitch. Elder went low inside the left post to convert the stroke.
Dilip Tirkey converted India’s second penalty corner while Jugraj Singh was off the pitch taking a rest. Dilip took a rebound off Mark Hickman’s pads and fired an unstoppable 50th minute shot high into the net. Schubert scored his third goal of the match (his fifth in five games) on the hour after Grant Eglington and Elder combined to deliver possession to Schubert at the left post to score past Devesh again.
Meanwhile, a hat trick from Julie Towers sealed a 3-1 win for Australia over Germany in the only match of the women’s 4-Nations Cup here yesterday. The Hockeyroos had been trailing by a goal after the break despite controlling much of the early play after Alexandra Kollmar broke through for Germany after 17 minutes.
