Kuala Lumpur, Feb 19: Asian Games champions India finally got their act together and laboured to a 3-2 win against Pan American titlists Canada while South Korea stunned European champions Germany with a 3-0 margin at the Sultan Azlan Shah hockey tournament on Saturday.Malaysia carved out a 4-2 victory over New Zealand to lead the standings with nine points. Led by two goals by Dhanraj Pillay, India finally pulled off a win beating Canada to keep alive their hopes of entering the final. India went on the backfoot as Canada scored in the sixth minute when Rob Short beat RVS Prasad, who had been brought in for Jude Menezes.India went on the offensive as Pillay sped into the circle and latched onto a pass from Riaz. The former Indian captain cut across and then fired in for a superb goal as India's equaliser in the seventh minute.India finally took the lead off a classy move by Deepak Thakur who had been brought in for Mukesh Kumar. After Canada had wasted a penalty corner, Ramandeep snatched the ball in the Indian circle and sent it through to Thakur. Racing through the middle, Thakur dribbled past the Canadian defense and with a reverse shot beat Mike Mahood in goal for India's second goal.At the break, India led 2-1.Four minutes into the second half and India increased the lead to 3-1. Thakur sent a cross from the mid-field to Pillay on the right flank who dribbled past three defenders, and with the goalkeeper in front, flicked the ball over the pads for a superb effort.Rob Short and Ken Perreira gave the Indian defense many a anxious moment. Penalty corners followed but the Indians failed to convert. In one move, Pillay snatched the ball before it was even stopped and launched a counter-attack.Canada's pressure tactics finally paid off when in the 53rd minute Rick Robertson scored off a penalty corner. Bronze for India ColtsCAIRO: The Indian juniors put up a sparkling show to trounce Switzerland 4-1 and claim the bronze medal in the Second Akhbar Al Yom International Hockey tournament.India were 1-0 at half time after Prabhjot Singh scored in the 26th minute. Skipper Bimal Lakra was outstanding as he pivoted and marshalled the Indian onslaughts time and again. India's first goal came after Lakra engineered his way from the left of the striking circle to set up winger Prabhjot who tapped home (1-0).In the 40th minute, Gurjant Singh latching on to a pass by Halappa found the target (2-0).Switzerland fired one back six minutes later after being awarded a penalty stroke converted by Lessert.The Indian Colts were reduced to 10 after half back Radha was sent off for dispute an umpire's decision. But India continued with their pleasing display and gusto and increased their tally in the 49th minute as a fluent combination of Bipin Fernandez and Lahra bore fruit. Fernandez drew the goalkeeper out and after nealty side stepping past him pushed home (3-1).Prabhjot rounded off the Indian tally in the last minute with a solo dash down the right flank (4-1).The Indian Juniors are now scheduled to play in Kuala Lumpur in a Five Nation under-21 tournament in April.
