India finish league without a win, get thrashed by Holland 1-6

Monchengladbach, Sep 12: A wayward India' put up yet another spineless display and stumbled to a humiliating 1-6 defeat against Holland and in the process earned a dubious distinction for the second time of not having won single league match in the World Cup here tonight.

Player of the match, drag flicker Taeke Taekema scored five goals, including four in a row while Roderick Weusthof chipped in with one.

Five goals came off penalty corner and one off a stroke which followed a stroke.

India finished last in the six team pool' B' with one point to their credit. This was the second time in two decades that they failed to win a match in the main league..Previous occasion was in 1986 at London, where they eventually ended last in the 12-nation tournament.

For Holland, who led 4-1 at half time, Taeke Taekema (12th, 14th, 25th, 30th, 65th), Roderick Weusthof (59th) were the goal getters.

For India Dilip Tirkey (13th) was the only goal scorer.

Holland, ended the league with ten points but the big win can help them in case the second semi final slot from this pool is to be decided on the goal difference.

Germany and South Korea both have ten points each and tomorrow if their match ends in a draw then Holland will not make it to the last four but in case any of the two teams emerging winner, then for the second spot the goal difference will come into play and in that case Holland will make it.

Indians, already reeling under the three defeats, were looking low as they took the field. What they dished out was the aimless hockey at its best. They neither could attack nor defend. They conceded ten penalty corners out of which the Dutch scored off six, while Indians earned only three and could make use of only one.

The Indians knew that Holland will be going flat out on the attack as they needed a big win and they should have prepared their strategy for that situation. But what one saw was total lack o game plan and defeated approach from the very start.

The Dutch attacked at will from all sides and Indians had no clue as how to check the marauding attackers. As the defence crumbled they conceded penalty corners and that exactly was Holland game plan. Taekema made full use of the penalty corners and put his side on the verge of semi final.

Holland seized the oppournity from the start and launched relentless attacks on the Indian defense. Though star Dutch striker Teun de Noojier was marked by Viren Rasquinha but he still was able to wriggle his way out. The Indian attack looked rudderless with no body to guide it as the players indulged in aimless running. If there was any game plan, it was not visible and then under the furious Dutch assault the mid field also wilted under the pressure.

It was a pathetic display in all departments of the game by the Indians and as the game progressed it was clear that players were just going through their motions and were very keen to see the end of the match.

Holland surged ahead in the 12th minute when they forced forced their first penalty corner. Rob Reckers's shot hit a defender's hand and umpire David Gentles whistled for a stroke. The Indians protested arguing that shot hit the stick and not the hand of a player but the umpire stood by his decision and Taeke Taekema made no mistake in converting it (1-0).

The lead lasted barely 58 seconds as Indians made a counter move which fetched them a penalty corner and Dilip Tirkey's powerful drive went into the net (1-1).

The Indian joy did not last a minute as their defence conceded another penalty corner and this time Taekema with a powerful drag flick sent the ball home.(2-1) The dreaded drag flicker repeated this performance twice in a span of five minute while converting fifth and sixth penalty corners in the 25th and 30th minute.

In between the Indians had a harrowing time of warding away the Dutch attackers who came from all sides.

The second half was no better then the first, the only difference being that Indians conceded only two more goals off the four penalty corners.

Roderick Weusthof converted the 8th penalty corner in the 59th minute and then Taekema completed the rout with a stunning drag flick off the ninth penalty corner and Indians were lucky that Dutch muffed their tenth penalty corner just before the close of the match.

None of the Indians could stand out and be counted. The defence was very feeble and unstable as they conceded ten penalty corners.

The forwards were aimless in their approach and mid field just weathered away under the rival onslaught. The Indian challenge sank without a trace and without any ado.

UNI