India rout Nigeria 8-0 to keep hopes alive

Melbourne, Mar 20: Giving a vastly improved display and playing to a plan, defending champions India scored an emphatic 8-0 win over Nigeria to keep their hopes of making it to the knock-out stage of the women's hockey competition alive at the Commonwealth Games here today.

For the winners, who led 5-0 at half time, the goal scorers were, Mamta Kharab, Jasjeet Handa (two each), Jyoti Kullu , Saba Anjum, Sarita lakra, Sanggai Maimon, (one each).

India now have five points from three outings -- having scored 12 goals while conceding six -- and will play their last league match against Malaysia.

''I am thrilled with the way girls played,'' said a beaming coach Maharaj Krishan Kaushik.

''We should have scored more goals as we earned 14 penalty corners,'' he added.

The coach was confident that his girls will give another impressive performance against Malaysia.

''This win will boost their confidence.'' The Indians outplayed their rivals in every department of the game and forced 14 penalty corners but could convert only two and that is an area for concern for the team management.

The Indians had rival goal on their mercy and apart from missing penalty corners they muffed several easy sitters. The margin of victory would have been much bigger but for the missed chances.

The Indians made their intentions very clear from the start that they were going for the kill and surged into the lead in the second minute of the match through Mamta Kharab.

The defending champions kept the pressure on their African rivals and forced two quick penalty corners which were muffed. It was in the 11th minute that they increased the tally when Jyoti kullu made a solo move and after darting past couple of defenders sent the ball in the cage to make it 2-0. The next two goals came off penalty corners in the 28th and 30th minute with Sanggai Maimon (3-0) and Mamta Kharab (4-0) converting them.

And a minute before the breather Saba Anjum blasted her way to take the tally to 5-0. Indians earned eight penalty corners in this session.

Nigerian goalkeeper Ladi Rogers was brilliant under the bar. She brought off stunning saves foiling Saba Anjum, Jyoti Kullu and Rajwinder Kaur's attempts.

Indians kept up the pressure in the second session as well.

However, several of their attacks found Rogers standing between them and the goal.

Four minutes into the second half, India consolidated their lead when Sarita Lakra sent the ball home following a defensive lapse (6-0).

The Nigerians virtually abandoned the midfield and fell back in their defence as Indians mounted their charge. Though attempts by Saba and Mamta were foiled, Indians chipped in two more goals to complete their tally.

Jasjeet made it 7-0 for the winners in the 47th minute and five minutes before the final whistle Jasjeet scored her second and team's eighth goal when she converted a stroke.

The stroke as awarded following a goal mouth melee after the 13th penalty corner. The winners earned six penalty corners in the second half but could not convert any of them.

The defending champions had 38 shots at the goal as compared to three by the Nigerians and the losers could earn only one penalty corner making the dominance of the Indians in the game complete.

But Indians will have to improve upon their penalty corner conversion against Malaysia for a big win to ensure themselves a place in last four.

UNI