India sink Oranje to win bronze

Raipur, December 6

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India prevailed 3-2 (5-5) in a penalty shootout against the Netherlands to clinch the bronze medal in the Hockey World League (HWL) Final here today.

Mirco Pruijser (ninth minute), Nicolas van der Schoot (25th) made it 2-0 for the visitors but Ramandeep Singh (39th) and Rupinderpal Singh (47th) brought India on level terms. Ramandeep scored again in the 51st minute to make it 3-2 before Mink van der Weerden scored the third goal for the Dutch.

Rupinder (55th) scored from a penalty stroke and later Akashdeep Singh doubled India’s lead after which van der Weerden scored twice to force the issue to the penalty shootout.

In the shootout, Billy Bakker, Seve van Ass scored while Jeroen Hertzberger, Pruijser and Valentine Verga failed. For India, Birendra Lakra, Sardar Singh were successful, while Danish Mujtaba and Muhammad Amir Khan failed. Rupinder scored the winning penalty stroke after Manpreet Singh was fouled by the goalkeeper.

The Netherlands were off to a very good start in the bronze-medal match.

Hertzberger made a diagonal pass to his left to Valentine Verga, whose backhand cross was deflected to the former. This time Hertzberger’s direct attempt at the goal found a touch from Pruijser before beating Sreejesh.

India responded with a strong counter-attack when left-half Danish Mujtaba made a solo run and dodged past four defenders. With only goalkeeper Pirmin Blaak to beat, his impressive run was wasted when the midfielder’s meek shot was easily blocked by Blaak.

The Netherlands doubled the lead when an unmarked Van der Schoot fired the ball high into the roof after he collected a pass from van Ass on the left. India got two penalty corners late into the second quarter but VR Raghunath and Rupinderpal Singh’s flicks were not up to the mark as India went into the break trailing by two goals.

The Netherlands would have run away with the game at the start of the third quarter as Bjorn Kellerman set up Hertzberger and Pruijser but their shots were wide. The Dutch created further chances, resulting in three back-to-back penalty corners but missed.

India, urged on by a vociferous crowd, reduced the deficit as Manpreet received the ball from Sardar and rolled it in front of the post to Ramandeep, who lifted over Blaak in the 39th minute.

India upped the ante in the final quarter as Manpreet stormed into the rival circle and found a foot of a defender, earning a penalty corner. Rupinder atoned for the earlier mistakes by flicking it past Blaak in the 47th minute.

Ramandeep fired India ahead few minutes later.

Later, some desperate attacks from the Netherlands saw them getting a penalty corner that was flicked high past Sreejesh.

The response to the Dutch’s equaliser was fast as the hosts earned a penalty corner. Rupinder’s flick found the body of a defender as the umpire directed for the penalty stroke.

Australia beat Belgium 2-1 to emerge champions

World champions Australia lived up to their reputation as they beat Belgium 2-1 in the final to become the champions. Jeremy Hayward (16th) and Matthew Dawson (37th) scored for Australia. Simon Gognard pulled one back for Belgium in the 60th minute. It was a game that Australia controlled the game in every department. — IANS