India misplaced 2-4 in opposition to the Netherlands in a shootout after their return leg FIH Pro League match ended in a 1-1 draw in Rourkela on Wednesday.
In their first leg match in Bhubaneswar, India defeated the Netherlands 4-2 in shootout after a 2-2 stalemate in regulation time.
World No.1 Netherlands broke the impasse via Floris Middendorp (4th minute) earlier than vice-captain Hardik Singh (thirty eighth) equalised for India, who’re ranked fourth.
In the shootout, Araijeet Singh Hundal and Lalit Kumar Upadhyay scored for India, whereas Sukhjeet Singh and Shamsher Singh missed from the one-on-one state of affairs.
The win gave the Netherlands two factors, whereas India pocketed one level.
Neck-and-neck battle
India utilized early stress on the Dutch with some threatening circle penetrations however failed to yield any constructive outcomes. The Netherlands, in flip, took the lead from their first circle entry in the fourth minute via Middendorp, who scored his first worldwide profession objective.
Middendorp scored from a rebound after India goalkeeper Krishan Bahadur Pathak saved Koen Bijen’s preliminary strive from an acute angle.
A minute from the primary quarter, the Netherlands secured their first penalty nook however failed to get previous an agile Pathak, who made a double save.
The second quarter was a neck-and-neck battle between the 2 groups however their efforts did not translate into targets.
It was a high-quality show of man-to-man marking from the Indian defenders as they did not permit the Dutch gamers any area to create clear-cut possibilities.
In the twenty seventh minute, India equalised via Sukhjeet Singh however the objective was disallowed because the on-field umpire felt it hit the striker’s physique. The hosts went for video referral however the choice was not in their favour. It was a show of end-to-end, fast-paced hockey from each the groups after the change of ends.
The Indians pressed onerous and secured their first penalty nook three minutes into the third quarter however skipper Harmanpreet Singh failed to beat the Dutch first rusher.
Eight minutes after half time, India earned one other penalty nook and this time Hardik scored from a rebound after Jugraj Singh’s flick was stored out by the Dutch defence.
The closing quarter was a hard-fought battle between the 2 sides as they penetrated one another’s circles a number of instances however the closing contact eluded them.
The Netherlands then secured a penalty nook however India’s first rusher Manpreet Singh’s courageous defending denied the Dutch. India will play Australia on Saturday earlier than rounding off their Pro league house marketing campaign in opposition to Ireland on Sunday.
