The Hague: Indian hockey team coach Terry Walsh says his team needs to learn the skills to shut the door on comebacks for rival teams.
"The difference between India and the top teams in international hockey today is that the Indians do not know how to put away a team," Walsh said after his side's 3-2 victory over Malaysia in the World Cup here on Saturday.
India dominated the match, but wasted several scoring chances in the first half, when they led 1-0.
Later, leading 3-1, they allowed Malaysia to reduce the deficit and thereafter have many shots at the Indian goal, which Walsh said should not have happened.
"After dominating them we allowed them to come back and make it 3-2, to me that was unnecessary," Walsh said.
"It is crucial for the teams in top-four or top-eight of the world to be able to cut out all chances for their rivals to stage a rally," he said.
Walsh felt India should have put this match beyond Malaysia early in the game, when they wasted several scoring chances.
"There was no reason for us not to put the match away in the first half itself. We should have been leading by three goals or so in the first half, and by some four goals in the second."
Indian captain Sardar Singh said this should have been a big victory.
"We should have won by a bigger margin today. We cannot afford to miss so many chances," said Sardar, who insisted that the team was getting better with every outing.
"The boys are doing well and really improving. They're playing consistent hockey," Sardar said.
Coach Walsh also insisted that the young team was improving.
"These are young lads and they are working hard. I would say we are making progress," said Walsh.
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