India push Dutch, but fall

Raipur, November 30 

An inconsistent India lost 3-1 to the Netherlands to slump to their second defeat in the tournament and finish at the bottom of Pool B at the Hockey World League (HWL) Final here today.

The Netherlands took the lead in the 36th minute through a penalty corner conversion by Mink van der Weerden before Mirco Pruijser (43rd) and Roel Bovendeert (54th) scored two field goals. 

India’s lone goal came from the stick of Chinglensana Singh in the 47th minute.

On the eve of the match, India’s chief coach Roelant Oltmans had said that the hosts would have to do away with their inconsistent show if they wanted to progress in world hockey but his words had hardly any impact on his players as they produced another lacklustre performance to slump to their second loss in the eight-nation tournament. The loss meant India finished at the bottom of Pool B with just one point from three matches and will now take on Pool A toppers in the quarterfinals.

The Netherlands, meanwhile, have topped Pool B with seven points out of two wins and a draw and will play the bottom placed team of Pool A. By virtue of this win, the Netherlands have also managed to avenge their 3-2 loss against India during the pool matches of Champions Trophy in Bhubaneshwar last year.

After a disappointing tournament opener against Argentina, India produced an inspired show to hold Olympics champions Germany to a 1-1 draw and soon after the match Oltmans called his wards to play consistent hockey.

But the coach’s words seemed to have fallen on deaf ears as the Indians were nowhere near the level they had played at against Germany the other day.

The Indians had just 36 percent ball possession. The hosts managed just eight shots at the goal while the Netherlands had 18 to their credit.

India made a couple of forays into the opposition circle in the first quarter but the strikers failed to make the most of the opportunities. 

India had the first scoring chance in the 11th minute when Dharamvir Singh’s cross from the right found Ramandeep Singh inside the circle but the striker’s feeble push was easily padded away by the Netherlands goalkeeper Jaap Stockmann.

Four minutes later, Thierry Brinkman created the Netherlands’ first chance but his deflection went over the bar. In the second quarter, the Netherlands had more chances than India but they somehow failed to convert them into goals.

In the 26th minute, Valentin Verga’s reverse hit from a tight angle was off the target before Roel Bovendeert shot wide from close range after he was set up after a fine combination by Niek van der Schoot and Jeroen Hertzberger.

In the final minute of the opening half, VR Raghunath’s defence-splitting diagonal slap from the midfield had no takers as it went on to hit the board as both the teams failed to break the deadlock at the halfway mark.

Three minutes into the second half, India had another opportunity but Akashdeep Singh failed to trap Manpreet Singh’s cross. — PTI

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