Maitland's Simon Orchard scored as Australia’s men’s hockey team booked their place in the semi-finals of the Commonwealth Games with a preliminary match to spare after beating India 4-2.
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A Chris Ciriello double and goals from Orchard and Jake Whetton earned the Australians all three points in a match in which India provided the World Champions with their sternest test yet.
Ciriello struck the first of his brace of goals after quarter of an hour with a trademark low penalty corner flick that flew up into the net off the glove of the diving Indian goalkeeper Sreejesh Parattu Raveendran.
Two minutes later Orchard doubled the advantage, converting a cut-back pass from Trent Mitton for 2-0.
Mitton himself forced a save from the Indian goalkeeper soon after before India created their best chance of the match so far. Ramanadeep Singh found himself bearing down on Andrew Charter’s goal after plucking an Australian clearance out of the air but he miscued his shot wide of the left post.
Moments later Jake Whetton showed how it’s done as he robbed an Indian defender on the 23 metre line before bursting into the circle and firing home for 3-0.
India gained hope on the stroke of half-time though when Rupinder Singh unleashed an unstoppable penalty corner drag flick into the top right corner.
Australia began the second half winning two penalty corners but having failed to convert them they were punished when Ramandeep Singh swept home a penetrating pass to pull India to within one goal at 3-2.
Less than 60 seconds later the two goal advantage was restored. From a penalty corner, Orchard’s goal-bound shot hit the body of an Indian defender on the line and the umpire immediately awarded Australia a penalty stroke. As he did against South Africa on Monday, Ciriello stepped up to the mark and scored with his flick to the left.
“It was a very tough encounter today. I said to the players before the game that during the World Cup [where Australia won 4-0], in the second half it was a nil-all draw. We had a really good first half but in our second half India came out with fight and spirit, they pressed us, they put pressure on us. So, we knew it was going to be a very tough encounter and it was," Kookaburra's co-coach Graham Reid said
“We talk about starving teams of oxygen and if you give India any oxygen then they will hurt you and today they proved that a couple of times where we just laxed off, we didn’t quite get our structure right at the back and they hurt us.”
Explaining how he felt stepping up for the penalty stroke, Chris Ciriello said, “We play big games pretty regularly so you’re used to trying to step up under pressure. The pressure’s on the flicker, yes, but you’ve just got to push it from what you’re thinking and score. I did that and luckily enough it went in.”
Australia’s final pool match is against hosts Scotland on Thursday (11pm AEST).
The semi-final against one of the top two teams from Pool B will take place on Saturday afternoon. While England is the most likely opponent, they could still swap places with New Zealand, who currently top Pool B, if results go their way.
India and South Africa meet on Thursday with both sides looking to join Australia in the semi-finals.