India Edges Canada in Second Test Match

October 11, 2009

Game two of the 7 Test Super Series was a thriller, as both the Indian and Canadian teams created many scoring chances in a game that went right down to the last minute. The first half would see each team tally three goals a piece, with fans only being required to wait until the fourth minute for the first as India’s Mohammed Amir Khan scored, silencing the hometown crowd.

Following India’s goal, Canada mounted a spell of sustained pressure that would lead to three successive penalty corners. The first two shot attempts taken by Wayne Fernandes would be saved by India’s keeper, but he made sure on the third, scoring high blocker side in the 20th minute. By the end of the match, Canada held the decided 7-4 edge in penalty corners.

Less than a minute after Canada’s tying goal, India rushed the ball down the other way causing all sorts of havoc in the home team’s end. After a questionable effort at the ball by India, Canadian players thought that the referee had signaled an advantage their way, leading them to stop on the play, but half a second later, the ball ended up in the back of their net. Denying that he had intended to make a call, the umpire signaled a goal, giving India back the one goal lead and leaving the home team shaking their heads.

Showing resiliency in true Canadian fashion, the home side would come right back with more pressure as Phil Wright made a strong drive towards the net, leading to a penalty stroke.

"The ball came through to me and I just tried to keep my stick on it and win the battle. I got it through a few guys and then got my stick hacked," said Wright about the play. Rob Short took the stroke, calmly shooting the ball past the keeper, high blocker side.

The excitement of the first half continued as India was awarded their first penalty corner in the 32nd minute of play.

"We got out there quick and we got a stick on it, but it went post man side, so that was just a bit unlucky on our part," said Canadian goalkeeper, David Carter, of India’s converted opportunity that put India up once again.

Not wanting to go into the break down by a goal, Canada forced their fourth penalty corner chance of the half in the 35th minute, and Wayne Fernandes put away his second goal of the match. The score at halftime was three goals apiece.

The second half of the match would see less scoring but a decided edge in possession for Canada. A 40th minute penalty corner, with the shot again taken by Fernandes, would be deflected high over the net. Canada’s best non-penalty situation chance came in the 51st minute, when Ranjeev Deol took a stretch pass on the left side of the opposition’s net and slid it along the goalmouth to Wright.

"Jeevers made a really good pass across the net to me and I was just in a little too deep," said Wright, regretting a pair of missed opportunities. "I had a couple chances down there at the end. I just needed a little more luck my way, but it’ll come."

Despite holding most of the possession, Canada would give up their fourth penalty corner in the 66th minute of play and India’s Dhajanay Mahadik would convert his second of the match, once again putting them on top.

Determined not to leave empty handed, Canada dominated the last four minutes of the match, eventually causing another penalty corner, where Fernandes would have the final chance to even it up.

"I gave it everything I had and he just made a good save," said Fernandes, unhappy about the miss, despite his two goal effort in the match. "At the end of the day it’s a 4-3 loss for the team."

Head Coach Alan Brahmst felt his team deserved a better fate on Sunday: "In the second half we were the much better team." Comparing the effort to the first match of the series, he said, "We played better, it was a very different game and we put more pressure on them. I feel good about what we’re doing, we were the better team today, and we’ll just keep on them."

The third match of the series takes place this Wednesday at 6pm in Surrey, and Brahmst likes Canada’s chances.


Scoring Summary:

IND – Khan, Mohammad Amir; FG; (4); 1-0
CAN – Fernandes, Wayne; PC; (20); 1-1
IND – Singh, Shivendra; FG; (21); 2-1
CAN – Short, Rob; PS; (23); 2-2
IND – Mahadik, Dhajanay; PC; (32); 3-2
CAN – Fernanes, Wayne; PC; (35); 3-3
IND – Mahadik, Dhajanay; PC; (66); 4-3
Penalty Corner Chances: CAN 7 – IND 4

Report by Omar Rawji