Indians dance to Jacko's big hit

England's Ashley Jackson ensures no semi-final berth for hosts

England's Ashley Jackson ensures no semi-final berth for hostsu00a0

Ashley Jackson put his words into action at the Dhyan Chand Stadium yesterday with a classy drag flick in the 42nd minute and a neat field goal in the 47th to ensure England inflicted a 3-2 defeat over India in a Pool B clash of the Hero Honda FIH World Cup here.

Ashley Jackson celebrates his goal against India on Saturday. PIC/AFP

India's loss puts them out of contention for a semi-final spot.

In the build up to clash, Jackson had told MiD DAY that the English team were keen to prove to the world that their two victories over India in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Qualifiers was no fluke. And on Saturday night, it was Jackson who orchestrated India's downfall. Obviously, he was au00a0 satisfied man. "Just the one chance was enough, wasn't it" Jackson told SUNDAY MiD DAY of his conversion off England's first and only penalty corner of the match.

Jaded

The jaded-looking Indian team only helped Jackson achieve his goal.

The opening goal summed up the Indian team's strategy or rather a lack of it. In the 16th minute, James Tindall, who was waiting besides India 'keeper Adrian D'Souza and behind a sea of Indian defenders, somehow got a ball which he only had to tap in.

India received a penalty corner each, before and after England's opening goal, but first Sandeep Singh and then Diwakar Ram failed to drag flick the ball home.

Jackson got into the thick of things in the second half.

England received a penalty corner 10 minutes into the first half and Jackson made no mistake beating D'Souza to the top left corner.

Five minutes later, the attacking midfielder who is also the recipient of FIH's Young Player of the Year award, made an inspiring run into the Indian striking circle and beat D'Souza hands down once again.

Dropping guard

At 3-0, however the visitors seem to have become a tad complacent even as Rajpal Singh's men in white (for a change) began to pick up the pieces.

Gurvinder Chandi's and Rajpal Singh's 54th and 57th minute tap-ins definitely did not do justice to the scoreline.

India deserved to go down by more goals, however D'Souza's experience under the bar saved the hosts more embarrassment.

India's Tushar Khandekar (forward), Sarvanjit Singh and Sardar Singh (both midfielders) could well be equated to passengers in the unimpressive 70-minute journey as India's basic trapping problems continued along with their lack of speed and direction.

Gurbaj Singh's constant long hits from the right flank only emphasise the fact that India's approach was a tired one. In fact, the hosts' desperation reached new levels when Sardar Singh and Gurbaj Singh received yellow cards for physical play with less than five minutes to go, reducing the team to nine men until the final whistle ended India's misery.
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It was truly a day to forget for India!