New Delhi: A brace by Adam Dixon was the difference between hosts India and England, as the later emerged victorious by 2-0 in the Pool A match held at Major Dhyan Chand Stadium here on Friday.
The first 15 minutes of the game saw both teams playing some cagey hockey as they sounded each other out, but then the Indian team raised the tempo, urged on by the noisy and enthusiastic crowd.
Two penalty corners awarded to India amounted to nothing and gradually a lack of goals began to frustrate the home side. England began to play higher up the pitch and, in turn, were rewarded with successive penalty corners. These also came to nothing and both teams struggled to maintain composure in the attacking circle as they sought the all important breakthrough.
That breakthrough came in the last 10 minutes of the first half as Adam Dixon (28') converted from a penalty corner.
It was 10 minutes into the second half before the next goal came as, to the crowd's consternation, Dixon (45) found the net again.
12 minutes from time India scored but the goal was disallowed following a successful referral by England.
Speaking on the win England coach, Bobby Crutchley said, “The first half was a bit rusty but in the second half the boys caught on and starting making the right passes. We restricted their chances of converting the penalty corners.”
Speaking on the loss India Coach Terry Walsh said, “The first half was a close game where we had corners but couldn’t convert. We have to work on delivering the ball in the mid field. We are good at penalty corners but we were not upto the mark today. There were moments where we could have changed the game but did not work for us.”
