Women’s Olympic Qualifiers – ‘Maha’ Rani Ritu takes India into final

Ritu Rani was the toast of the goodly crowd at the floodlit Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium after she scored the only goal of the last pool match that shunted out Italy and put the Indian eves into the final of the Olympic qualifiers. The hosts meet top seeds South Africa in the title round who had already sealed their place earlier. The winner of the final will qualify for London 2012.

Ritu’s match winner came in the 50^th minute of play off India’s sixth penalty corner when she reverse slapped in a rebound off a Jaspreet Kaur hit which ballooned off the pads of Italian goalkeeper Roberta Lilliu.

The Indian defence was then subject to intense pressure in the closing minutes as the Roman lasses threw everything at their rivals, forcing two penalty corners in the last three minutes in the search for the equalizer that would have taken them through. But the women in blue rose to the occasion and kept the citadel safe. Italy’s dangerous forward Alessia Padalino was not allowed a sniff at the Indian goal all through the match. India also cleverly slowed down the pace of the game in the closing stages to deny Italy any momentum from their desperate counters.

The win took India to 10 points, three behind table toppers South Africa while the tearful Italians had to remain discontent with 8 after this missed opportunity. Ukraine finished with 7 points after beating Poland 1-0 today, the Canadians managed 4 and the Poles none.

Mindful of the fact that a draw would take them through, Italy’s strapping defenders ably marshalled by skipper Chiara Tiddi kept a tight ship and did not allow the Indian attack any openings through the middle through India mounted a few attacks from both the flanks. There was just one good opening that India had all through the match from open play but that came in the 42^nd minute and found Deepika Thakur off target.

In a must win situation, India, ranked 13th, forced four penalty corners in the first half and came close to scoring from two of them. But Lilliu pulled off a spectacular save off an Asunta Lakra reverse hit and Jaspreet Kaur’s strike from the fourth award whizzed past the far post. At the other end, Yogita Bali too came to India’s rescue from the five penalty corners that the 19^th ranked team in the world forced. In the 52^nd minute,Bali also left her line to clear a through ball to deny two Italian forwards who were hotly in pursuit.

In the end it was a deserving win for India who were the more adventurous as compared to the defensive Italians who were only playing for a point.