India and Pakistan resurrected their Olympic campaigns as Asian teams finally made a mark on a day of high drama at the men’s field hockey here yesterday.
The former masters of the game, along with their Asian rivals South Korea, recorded their first wins in the competition even as world champions Germany and holders the Netherlands survived big scares.
Germany forced a 1-1 draw on Spain with Christoph Bechmann squaring Santiago Freixa’s 28th minute goal with six minutes to spare at the Helliniko stadium. The Dutch were held 3-3 by valiant New Zealand till the last two minutes, before Sander van der Weide scored a last-gasp winner for the defending champions.
Australia, the other title contender, also managed to squeeze out a 2-2 draw against Argentina with Jamie Dwyer netting the equalizer four minutes from the end for his fifth goal in two matches.
The Netherlands, seeking a hat trick of titles, remained the only team in the 12-nation competition with an all-win record. Pakistan thrashed unfancied Egypt 7-0 with ace penalty corner specialist Sohail Abbas netting four goals to take his tally to 254 from 206 internationals.
Asian Games champions South Korea saved two last-second penalty corners to record a thrilling 3-2 win over Britain, who fought back twice to draw level in the fast-paced encounter.
India, stung by two South African goals in the first 12 minutes, hit back to draw level on either side of the interval before pumping in two more in the dying minutes to win 4-2.
Veterans Dhanraj Pillay and Baljeet Singh drew India level but a short corner by Dilip Tirkey gave them a late lead, extended by a stunning reverse goal from Gagan Singh 28 seconds from the final siren. Greg Nicol and Craig Fulton scored for South Africa.
India’s portly German coach Gerhard Rach, who took over barely three weeks before the Olympics, danced on the bench after the hooter sounded.
“Brilliant, absolutely brilliant,” Rach exclaimed. “The boys did not give up till the end and that is the best part of this victory. Hopefully this is the beginning of a new India.”
Pakistan led 5-0 at half-time of the one-sided game against Egypt after Kashif Jawaad opened with two goals by the 12th minute and captain Muhammad Nadeem added a third in the 15th.
Abbas completed the rout, scoring twice in the first half and two more after the interval.
It was just the kickstart coach Roelant Oltmans’ Pakistan needed ahead of the tougher Group A matches against South Korea, Spain and Britain.
Lee Jung-Seon was Korea’s hero with two goals against Britain, including the winner two minutes before the end to give his team their first full points.
The Koreans, silver-medalists at the Sydney Games four years ago, led 1-0 at half-time through Lee’s 15th minute strike. The spectacular second half produced three goals in a six-minute burst.
Danny Hall made it 1-1 for Britain in the 46th minute with a powerful shot, but Yeo Woon-kon put the Koreans ahead again two minutes later.
Britain, inspired by brilliant saves from their goalkeeper Simon Mason, counter-attacked and were rewarded in the 52nd minute when Niall Stott equalized a second time.
Britain wasted a penalty corner in the last minute, while the Koreans saved two to win the absorbing match. “The end was heart-breaking,” said British coach Jason Lee. “But I am proud the way the boys responded in adversity. They showed character when the chips were down.”
Korean manager Jeon Jae-hong was a relieved man at the end.
“Such close games are not good for the heart,” he said. “I don’t want another one like this.”
Australia, looking for their first Olympic gold despite making the semifinals for five Games in a row, faced an embarrasing reverse when Mario Almada’s two goals put the Argentines ahead.
But Dwyer, the 25-year-old Queenslander who scored a hat-trick against New Zealand, saved the Kookaburras the blushes with his second equalizer of the match.
