Pirate Galaxy » as the weakest on paper played to thei

Going into their first Junior World Cup, it might have been fair to say the Austrian hockey team - ranked lowest amongst the participants -- were rank outsiders. Their results in Lucknow are not doing justice to the tag. After holding Argentina to a draw in their opening game, Austria produced yet another upset beating Korea 5-2 in their second Pool A match in Lucknow on Saturday. With four points from two games, the side coached by former India manager Cedric DSouza are currently top of their group and within touching distance of a quarterfinal spot (the top two teams make the last eight)Im ecstatic with the result. Im very proud of the team, says DSouza who also coaches the Delhi Waveriders franchise in the Hockey India League. DSouza said that the fact that the team went in to the tournament as the weakest on paper played to their advantage. We went into the tournament as the lowest ranked side (the Austrian senior team is currently 21st in the FIH rankings. Korea is 11th and Olympic champions Argentina are 2nd) We were the minnows. But that meant that there was no pressure on us, says DSouza.As a result Austria could focus on their strengths. In teams such as Germany, Australia and India, a number of players are in the senior squad as well. Our players dont have the benefit of playing at that high level. We needed to keep our defensive structure. And we have been able to maintain our discipline, he says.DSouza said he knew the Koreans would press hard against his side. Against Korea we knew they would be very attacking so our plan was to hit them on the counter. We played fast and passed often because if we kept the ball for too long, we would be in trouble, says DSouza.That strategy played out perfectly in Lucknow on Saturday. Field goals from Marcel Hilbert (8th minute) and Pit Rudofsky (21st minute) put Austria 2-0 up before Joohan Park (35st minute) pulled one back for Korea just before the break through a penalty stroke. Oliver Binder, who had scored the equalizer against Argentina on Friday, scored Austrias third in the 39th minute through a penalty corner, before Park scored his second through yet another penalty stroke in the 56th to reduce the deficit. Franz Lindengrun made it 4-2 in 60th minute through a penalty corner and Pit Rudofsky rounded off an impressive win in the 62nd minute, scoring his second through a field goal.While the win puts his side in a great position to qualify for the quarterfinals, DSouza says that isnt the teams target. Speaking to ESPN before the tournament, DSouza had said that the seeing the senior team through to the 2020 Olympics was his primary goal, and he viewed Junior WC as a way to groom the youngsters for Tokyo. There are four players who are under 18 in our side for this tournament. This is a great sign for us, he said.For DSouza Saturdays result would be a great milestone on a journey that started in January this year when he was picked as Austrias coach. He had coached Viennese club SV Arminen between 2010 and 2013, helping the side win its first title in 15 years. The president of the Austrian Hockey Federation, Walter Kapounek, had then told him that if there was ever a vacancy for the national teams coach, he would be the first to get a call. Four years later Kapounek drove from Vienna to Antwerp to make the offer in person to DSouza who was then doing commentary for the Hockey World League. At that point I had an offer for a five year contract from a club in Scotland. But I had told them to give me a month to think about it. And then suddenly on the 29th day, Walter drove down to Antwerp to ask me to prepare Austria for the 2020 Olympics. It was a no brainer to agree. What else can you call it but destiny, says DSouza.While his side has had two great results, they have an even bigger challenge coming up next. On Monday, they play Australia. The boys have had a spring in their step after the game against Argentina, but we have a really hard game against Australia. Regardless of the result we need to take lessons from the game. Ive told the boys that our journey is to the 2020 Olympics. Anything else - win or loss-before then is just a pitstop, he says. Corey Perry Jersey .Y. -- Bills receiver Stevie Johnson has a bone to pick with the NFL schedule maker. Anaheim Ducks Jerseys . -- PGA TOUR Canada member Steve Saunders took a three-stroke lead Saturday in the Web. http://www.authenticduckspro.com/Ryan-getzlaf-ducks-jersey/ . Nigeria beat surprise package Ethiopia 2-0 in the second leg of their playoff for a comfortable 4-1 aggregate victory. Victor Moses converted a 20th-minute penalty after an Ethiopian handball, and Victor Obinna made certain of Nigerias place in Brazil with his powerful free kick in the 82nd at UJ Esuene Stadium. Scott Niedermayer Jersey . While hell be dialed in to that tournament on a course he loves, you can forgive him if his eyes glance down the calendar just a bit, towards April. Adam Henrique Jersey . Scott Kazmir allowed four hits in seven shutout innings, Michael Brantley hit a two-run homer in a three-run first inning and the Indians maintained their hold on an AL wild-card spot with a 4-1 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday night.The Sunday Supplement is back as our panel of journalists dissect the weeks big football talking points. Neil Custis (The Sun), Jonathan Northcroft (Sunday Times) and John Cross (Daily Mirror) all join Neil Ashton on the panel for a Sunday morning football chat.The trio of writers will be discussing the big news from all of Saturdays action, including the Saturday Night Football between Swansea, looking for a win to ease their relegation fears, and an Aston Villa side who already look doomed for the drop. Ashton and his guests will also be looking ahead to crucial Super Sunday double headerr as Newcastle take on Sunderland in the Tyne-Wear derby as both sides battle to stay in the top flight, before the Manchester derby where City will look to get their title bid back on track.dddddddddddd If you cant catch Sunday Supplement on the box, look out for the podcast available after the show.Tune in for Sunday Supplement from 9am on Sky Sports 1 HD this Sunday. Also See: Sunday Supplement Goals on Sunday Soccer AM The FantasyFC ' ' '