Melbourne: India got a step closer to the quarterfinals by beating world No.6 New Zealand 4-2 in a Pool A match of the 34th edition of the Champions Trophy hockey here yesterday.
Having already beaten England (3-1) on Saturday, India sit pretty atop Pool A and are the only team in the eight-team competition to have won both their matches.
India continued to be the surprise team as they are lowest ranked (11) in the nine-day tournament.
After conceding the opening goal from a costly turn over, India dominated the remainder of the first half to take a 3-1 half-time lead.
New Zealand hit back early in the second half with a brilliant goal to Nicholas Wilson, however a goal to Danish Mujtaba in the dying minutes ensured India remained undefeated.
Meanwhile, field hockey powerhouses Australia and the Netherlands played out a scoreless draw to keep open the fight for top spot in Pool B.
In the day’s other matches, England created history by defeating Germany for the first time at the eight-nation tournament 4-1, while Pakistan looked impressive in downing Belgium 2-0.
The draw means that Australia, the Dutch and Pakistan can all still finish on top of their pool with one more round of matches remaining today ahead of Thursday’s quarter-finals.
Number two ranked Australia will be particularly frustrated with the result given they dominated much of the game, failing to convert numerous penalty corner opportunities against third-rated Dutch.
Having eight penalty corners to only one, Dutch goalkeeper Jaap Stockmann proved to be the difference, producing several magnificent goal saves.
Earlier England pulled off an upset against the world number one Germans.
It was the first time England had defeated Germany at the Champions Trophy and they controlled the match from the opening whistle, scoring their first goal through Adam Dixon on six minutes.
England continued to press the Olympic champions and scored again through Harry Martin in the 10th minute.
Things improved slightly when Germany pulled one back four minutes later through an own goal, but England regained their two-goal buffer with an own goal two minutes before half time and rounded it off with a fourth goal to Darren Cheesman.
Pakistan made amends for Saturday’s disappointing 3-1 loss to the Netherlands by overcoming Belgium.
The result leaves the Belgians as the only winless team in Pool B while Pakistan still have a chance to finish on top of the pool.
After a goalless first half, Pakistan lifted their tempo after half time, and a goal to Abdul Haseem Khan was followed by another from Shafqat Rasool to put the result beyond doubt.
Agencies
