Holland emerge champs;
Pakistan win bronze

Australia 3 - Korea 0
Pakistan 4 - India 3
Holland 3 - Germany 2

India conceded three goals in four minutes to squander a 3-1 lead, as arch-rivals Pakistan scored a stunning 4-3 victory in a dramatic bronze medal match in the Champions Trophy hockey tournament in Cologne on Sunday.

However, there was some consolation for Inda, as their versatile forward Dhanraj Pillay was adjudged the player of the tournament.

Olympic champions The Netherlands won the gold medal, beating World and defending champions Germany 3-2 in the final, via the tie-breaker. The teams were locked goalless even after 15 minutes of extra-time.

The hero of Holland's victory was goalkeeper Guus Vogels, who saved three German penalty-strokes. Ronald Brouwer converted the 10th and last penalty to give the Dutch victory.

The Netherlands, who last won this elite six-team event in Amstelveen two years ago, have now lifted the trophy six times in 24 years, a record only bettered by Germany (8) and Australia (7).

Germany, who lost 5-2 to the Dutch in an inconsequential match on Friday, were more dominant in the first half but failed to take their chances.

The Germans have an impressive record in penalty competitions, especially against the Dutch, but they did not convert them on Sunday, after Sascha Reinelt had converted the first of the shoot-out. Dutch goalkeeper Guus Vogels then saved off Florian Kunz, Matthias Witthaus and Philipp Crone as Tibor Weissenborn scored Germany's last try.

For Holland, Taeke Taekema converted the first stroke and Piet Geeris and Ronald Brouwer their last two while Bram Lomans and Teun de Nooijer failed from the spot.

Taekama finished as top scorer at the tournament with seven goals.

Earlier, Australia beat South Korea 3-0 to register their first victory and finish fifth in the six-team tournament.

The victory earned them automatic qualification for the 2003 Champions Trophy, while Korea have been relegated.

Scott Webster, Jaime Dwyer and Michael McCann accounted for Australia's goals.

India surrender 3-1 lead

Goals by Jugraj Singh, Dilip Tirkey and Gagan Ajit Singh saw India go 3-1 up by the 56th minute, with the lone Pakistan goal, scored by Mudassar Ali Khan, coming in the 28th minute.

However, the Indians suddenly dropped gear and Pakistan stepped up the pace and scored thrice in five minutes from field goals before the final hooter to avenge the defeat they suffered in the league stage.

Mudassar Ali Khan scored his second goal with a pass from Wassem Ahmed in the 63rd minute and then Rehan Butt, who came in as substitute just minutes before the goal, produced two astonishing goals in the 65th and 67th minutes ti upset the Indian applecart.

The defeat was an anti-climax to the India's fine run in the tournament.

Unlike the league encounter, the India - Pakistan match did not rise to great heights, the real good moves coming only in the second half.

India's star-striker Dhanraj Pillay, who had played a pivotal role in India's victory in the previous game, went unnoticed today, mostly remaining confined in the mid-field trying to build moves.

Once again it was Pakistan who launched the first attacks and earned penalty-corners in the second and third minutes. But Indian goalkeeper Devesh Chauhan thwarted the attempts from specialist Sohail Abbas.

India's first chance came in the fifth minute when they earned their first penalty-corner but an indirect hit was saved by goalkeeper Ahmed Alam.

India's forward line was a litle hackled today, with an extra defender on Pillay and Deepak Thakur, making them both shift positions as Thakur especially came in from the left instead of the right that he plays nowadays.

With both the teams cautious knowing that a loss would mean not going back with a medal, midfield play was tight. India showed enterprise as the match progressed, with Bimal Lakra really shining with some great runs in the middle and for the first time in the tournament, even Viren Rasquinha moved up leaving his defensive posture.

India went into the lead in the 12th minute with their second penalty-corner when Jugraj Singh scooped the ball into the left corner of the goal.

India then dominated but cold increase the lead. A glorious run by Deepak Thakur, who raced down the left flank and then dribbled on the line before tapping towards goal was well saved by Ahmed Alam.

For Pakistan, Kashif Jawad had a nice opportunity but his shot after having beaten Chauhan on his charge went inches past the post.

Pakistan, finally, equalised in the 28th minute off their third penalty-corner. The Indians were committed for Sohail Abbas to take the flick but Pakistan sold the dummy that sent the defence on the wrong foot as the pass went to Mudassar Ali Khan, the penalty-corner pusher, standing just next to the Indian goal. Mudassar calmly flicked the ball past Chauhan, who had absolutely no chance.

At the break, the teams were locked 1-1.

India as they earned their third penalty-corner in the 48th minute and captain Dilip Tirkey was right on target with a stinging shot that completely beat goalkeeper Alam and gave India a 2-1 lead.

Attacking all the way, Lakra moved up into the Pakistan circle in the 53rd minute and nudged the ball to an advancing Gagan Ajit, who ran wide, and as Ahmed Alam fell, hit the ball into goal to make it 3-1.

All India needed to do now was to close the defence and hold possession but they left a huge gap between the forwards and the defence. Pakistan seized the chance and utilised it to the maximum.

First, Mudassar Ali Khan got enough space between two defenders and hit past a diving Chauhan to cut India's lead to 2-3 in the 59th minute.

Then started Pakistan's most brilliant phase as newcomer Naved Butt, playing his first international tournament, levelled for Pakistan at 3-3 in the 62th minute.

India still did not learn from their mistakes and left huge gaps in the defence. With just seven minutes left in the match, Rehan Butt latched onto a long drive from deep in the Pakistan half and brilliantly deflected it below Chauhan's pads for the match-winner.

The Indians were disappointed to say the least but as coach Rajinder Singh said, his boys played well and loss of focus in the dying minutes.

"But I think this side is capable of still playing better hockey and we will improve further when we go to defend the gold medal in the Asian Games in Busan next month."

The Netherlands to host 2003 tournament

The FIH announced on Sunday that the next men's Champions Trophy will be held at Amstelveen, Netherlands from August 16 to 24 and the next women's Champions Trophy will be held in Sydney, Australia, from November 29 to December 7, 2003

Day 1: Holland hold India with late goal
Day 2: India go down fighting to Germany
Day 3: India shock Australia
Day 4: Pillay, Chauhan star as India beat Pakistan
Day 5: Germany down Australia with late goals
Day 6: India, Pakistan to clash for bronze medal

Champions Trophy 2002: The Complete Coverage