Hockey: Americans made to wait for victory

United States 1 India 1

After nine months of waiting and two games at Cannock against India, the Americans are no nearer their target of a place in the Women's World Cup in Perth, Australia, at the end of the year.

Missing out on the qualifier in France last autumn because of the atrocities on 11 September, the USA were given the chance of a three-match eliminator against the Indians, who finished seventh in the qualifier. The series got under way on Saturday, with the first match ending 1-1. Tracey Fuchs, the American captain, levelled the scores in the 51st minute after the Indians had opened the scoring through Mamta Khar in the 10th minute.

Yesterday, it was very much against the run of play that Fuchs put the Americans ahead, again from a penalty corner in the 22nd minute. Earlier the Indians had had two goals, one from the penalty spot, disallowed.

The Indians seemed content to move the ball around the defence with precision, Khar, Manjinder Kaur and Sita Gussain controlling the midfield. They created a string of opportunities to equalise from their ninth penalty corner attempt 13 minutes into the second half. Gussain eventually beat the American goalkeeper Margaret Storrar with a delicate lob. The Americans have Storrar to thank as they line up tomorrow for the final game all level.