Sandeep's triple strike buries Italy in hockey

New Delhi: Indian men continued to storm towards an Olympic qualification as they registered their second consecutive big win of the hockey qualifiers with three goals from star drag-flicker Sandeep Singh, which helped India rout Italy 8-1 here at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium on Saturday.

India converted four of the five penalty corners (PC) they got, with Sandeep beating the Italian goalkeeper Fabrizio Federici thrice and VR Raghunath once. SV Sunil bagged a brace, while Gurwinder Singh Chandi and Shivender Singh got on the scoresheet once. The consolation goal for Italy was scored by No. 11 Alessandro Nanni off a penalty corner.

India, as promised by coach Michael Nobbs, were in no mood to relent after pumping in 15 goals against Singapore on Saturday. The approach resulted in two penalty corners (PC) in the first 12 minutes, allowing Sandeep and Raghunath to open their account in the 4th and 12th minute respectively.

Italy surprisingly pulled one back off a PC gifted by some slack defending by Sandeep in the 17th minute. Nanni scored for Italy but the visitors' hopes of making a comeback were thrashed by hosts in the next 15 minutes in which they scored as many as four goals.

Sandeep continued with his scintillating display of drag-flicks converting two more PCs in the 22nd and 23rd minute. India's nimble-footed right-out Sunil made it 5-1 in the 30th, followed by Chandi's fourth goal of the qualifiers three minutes before the half-time hooter went off.

The second half began on a familiar note. Sunil got his second goal through a neat deflection in the 38th minute. Sandeep slapped one strongly into the Italian circle where Sunil managed to get his stick onto the ball and the deflection made it 7-1.

Rolling substitute SK Uthappa, who was playing as left-out, managed some good runs down the flank but on most occasions either failed to cut into the striking circle or send an accurate centre. But Shivender got India their eighth goal in the 52nd minute through a clean strike on the third opportunity he got in the space of two minutes. India led 8-1 at that stage.

Indian forwards seemed to have got tired in the last 15 minutes of the game during which veteran midfielder Ignace Tirkey also received a green card. A tired forward line probably cost India at least another couple of goals as 4-5 chances went a begging.

When asked about his goal spree after the match, Sandeep said, "We tried a few variations yesterday [against Singapore] but it didn't give us the desired results. Today [against Italy] I went for the old fashioned drag-flick and it yielded results."

Italy have now lost both their matches and find themselves at the bottom of the table just above Singapore, who are last. India and France have 100 per cent result and thus six points each. But by virtue of having scored a mammoth 23 goals, the Indians sit comfortably at the top of the table. Canada and Poland are locked at three points each from two games.

Monday is the rest day at the Olympic qualifiers, after which India will take on France on Tuesday.