Stacy strikes nail India

Stacy strikes nail India
AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE

SYDNEY, APRIL 6: Veteran Jay Stacy converted two penalty corners as Australia beat India 3-2 in an action-packed match on the opening day of the Four Nations Men's Hockey Tournament here on Thursday.

Dilip Tirkey responded for India but it was youngster Ben Taylor's goal after just 90 seconds into the match that proved the difference in a free-flowing encounter at the Olympic venue.

Taylor, 24, slammed in a rebound at close to shoulder height with a hit that could just as easily have been ruled dangerous play. It was his third goal in 18 matches for Australia.

In the opening match, Germany crushed South Africa 5-1 with some clinical finishing.

India came back in the game when experienced Australian half-back Daniel Sproule swung at a ball above his head in his own circle and gave away a penalty corner.

Tirkey's shot squeezed between goalkeeper Lachlan Dreher's legs to level the scores in the 40th minute.

Stacy, playing his 297th international, banged in two in the space of five minutes to take his career tally to 154 before Tirkey grabbed his second with four minutes left.

That made for some tense play, with full-back Murray Richards and Gagan Ajit Singh sent out with yellow cards.

Germany rarely needed to get out of second gear as Christoph Bechmann and Bjorn Michel both scored twice against the outclassed South Africans.

Michel's penalty corner flicks in each half left veteran goalkeeper Brian Myburgh with no chance and Bechmann's deflection on the hour was his 100th international goal.

The South Africans need good results here this week and in Perth next week to try to convince their National Olympic Committee to reinstate the team for the Sydney Games.

South Africa qualified as African champions but were withdrawn because the country's National Olympic Committee felt the team wouldn't finish higher than eighth, and also over the quota of black players required by the Government.