Australia outplayed India 5-2 to rebound from a surprise loss to unbeaten England while Pakistan edged Spain 2-1 with a late winner at the field hockey World Cup on Tuesday.
England defeated South Africa 6-4 to be the only side undefeated in Pool B.
After stunning world No. 2 Australia in their opener, England have a maximum six points from two matches. Australia, Spain, India and Pakistan have three each, and South Africa zero.
PHOTO: AFP
Australia, silver medalists at the last two World Cups, were led by two goals from Glenn Turner. Liam de Young, Desmond Abbott and Luke Doerner also scored. Vikram Pillay and captain Rajpal Singh reduced the margin for India.
“It’s a great relief to win this game after losing the first in a disappointing manner,” Australia captain Jamie Dwyer said. “It was important to score early goals. It’s good to play the way we normally do.”
India coach Jose Brasa was disappointed with the defensive lapses that conceded the initial three goals.
“They were in a different league as far as fitness and speed was concerned,” Brasa said. “They scored early goals after stupid faults by our defenders.”
England and South Africa were 2-2 at half-time of a fast-paced encounter, but England scored three successive times straight after the break to seal the result.
Ashley Jackson made it 3-2 in the 43rd minute, then Nick Catlin and Iain Mackay scored a minute apart to put England in control at 5-2.
Marvin Harper’s second field goal cut England’s lead by one, but Richard Mantell’s second penalty corner goal in the 57th ensured England stayed unbeaten.
England captain Barry Middleton said the team needs to be consistent for all 70 minutes.
“Although we scored six goals, our defense was not up to the mark,” Middleton said. “We did not play good hockey in the second half. We have a tough game coming up Thursday against Pakistan.”
Rob Moore also scored for England, and Lloyd Norris-Jones and Thornton McDade were South Africa’s other scorers.
Pakistan rode a pair from Abdul Haseem to defeat Olympic silver medalists Spain.
Pakistan, which lost to India in its opener, took the lead in the 30th minute when Haseem’s shot was deflected in by Spanish defender Xavier Ribas.
Spain equalized in the 65th through David Alegre, whose flick in during a goalmouth melee followed a penalty corner.
But Haseem scored the winner three minutes later by deflecting in a penalty corner from Sohail Abbas.
“It seems the World Cup has started for us today,” Pakistan coach Shahid Ali Khan said.
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