Brilliant Britain deny India bronze medal

Antwerp (Belgium), Jul 5

India's defence crumbled in the bronze medal play-off as they crashed to a 5-1 defeat against Great Britain for a fourth-place finish at the Hockey World League Semifinals here today.

This is Britain's biggest victory in a hockey international against Indian men, the previous best being the 3-0 win at the Seoul Olympics in a preliminary round match. Britain went on to win the gold medal.

The Indian defensive structure fell apart as they were frequently caught off-guard by counter-attacks. Besides, the defenders faltered on penalty corners twice.

Goals from Alastair Brogdon (11th minute), Chris Griffiths (27th), Ashley Jackson (37th), Adam Dixon (42nd) and captain Barry Middleton (44th) gave Britain a five-goal lead before India pulled one back through Rupinder Pal Singh's penalty-corner conversion in the 59th minute.

Britain made their first raid into the Indian circle in the third minute, but the defenders managed to hold their ground without any panic.

To these early raids, India responded aggressively. Akashdeep Singh ran into the scoring zone from the left flank, but had no support and sent a reverse hit straight to the goalkeeper.

Britain took the lead in the 11th minute when Alastair Brogdon got a touch to a reverse shot from Dan Fox into the right corner of the net.

India created some ripples in the British circle in the 17th minute when Nikkin Thimmaiah picked up a long ball deep in the British territory and dribbled his way past a defender. Not getting a clear look at the goal, he passed the ball back, only to see the opportunity go waste.

Britain's second goal came in the 27th minute on a counter-attack after Manpreet Singh moved up into the rival circle, exchanging passes with Satbir Singh, but could not have a crack at the citadel in the crowded circle.

The quick clearance saw Nick Catlin send a long ball down the middle that Chris Griffiths deflected into the goal with the Indian defence just not in the frame. PTI