Gudmundsson's hat-trick leaves India gaping

By A. Vinod

KOCHI, JAN. 13. The Indian party at the Sahara Cup is all but over after the home team melted before the pressure tactics deployed by Iceland in the Group II match at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium on Saturday. The day belonged to the Icelanders who won by a 3-0 scoreline, all the goals coming from their attacking midfielder Tryggvi Gudmundsson. Gudmundsson's brilliant individual effort also marked the first hat-trick of the 13- nation tournament.

For a side which was unimpressive against Uruguay on Thursday, the improved display of the Icelanders was a revelation. They were on top right through and had little difficulty in taunting and tormenting their Indian rivals before coming up with a result that should put them through to the quarterfinals.

Naturally, the Iceland coach Atli Edvaldsson was a relieved man. ``My players were patient today and this showed particularly in the second-half. I was not satisfied with the way my boys played in the first-half, but I have no complaints as they showed a marked improvement.''

His Indian counterpart, Islam Akhmedov, also seemed to hold the same view and said that it was the experience of the Icelanders which eventually saw them prevail. Though vanquished, Akhmedov was all praise for the manner in which his players performed in the first-half, and felt that his side could have saved the day but for the three silly mistakes committed by the defence.

Having lost to the Uruguayans, the Icelanders faced a must-win situation to extend their stay in this country and the team rose to the occasion to realise its objective. The initial phase of the encounter itself suggested the ambitions of the visiting side as its forwards pressed hard and held the Indian defence on tenterhooks. With its midfielders also forced to help out the defence, the anticipated counter-attacks from India failed to materialise proving a setback to the game-plan worked out by the Indian coach.

Still, it cannot be denied that Jo Paul Ancheri and the rest of his colleagues were successful in warding off the rival forays by covering up the zones and making quick clearances in the first 40 minutes of play. The only goal-scoring opportunity the Icelanders enjoyed during this period was when Gudmundsson found himself unmarked after latching on to a crisp pass from the left, and had just Virender Singh, the Indian goalkeeper, to conquer.

Gudmundsson, instead of essaying a direct shot at the goal, preferred to chip the ball over and his effort was easily tapped over the bar by Virender Singh. However, nearing the interval, Gudmundsson made amends for his lapse after being presented with a loose ball by the Indian defence. The ball, in fact, landed in front of Gudmundsson, Thorhallur Hinriksson and Gylfi Einarsson before the former took the responsibility to bury it into the Indian net.

Gudmundsson did not miss the other two chances which came his way after the break. The first one was scored with a pile-driver from outside the box after Ancheri failed to clear a cross by Gudmundur Benediktsson well into the Indian penalty area. His next goal was a brilliant effort as he took control of the ball from Dipak Mondal and Virender to complete a well- deserved hat- trick. Gudmundsson, along with Benediktsson, was almost immediately pulled out of the field, but this did not stop the Icelanders from giving a harrowing time to the Indians. Towards the close, the Indian presence was felt at the Iceland goal when Alvito d'Cunha and Bijen Singh, who had come in place of Carlton Chapman and Bruno Coutinho, produced a couple of moves which had the rival defence back-pedalling. While Alvito's shot was rescued by the cross-piece, Bijen's effort was smartly saved by the Iceland goalkeeper, Fjalar Thorgeirsson.

The Indians, who play Uruguay on Monday, can hope to make it to the next round only if they win by a 2-0 margin. A herculean task indeed if one goes by the disappointing display this evening before an improved crowd.

Sunday's match: Yugoslavia vs Bosnia.

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