Champions Trophy: India downs Netherlands in a five-goal thriller

India beat Netherlands for the first time in 18 years

India finally gave the home fans something to cheer about as they defeated Netherlands 3-2 in a nail-biting encounter here in the Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneshwar. With this win, India pocketed three points and moved to third place in the points table, replacing Germany on superior goal difference. India will now face Belgium in the quarter-finals.

SV Sunil, Rupinder Pal Singh and Manpreet Singh were on the score-sheet for India whereas Mink van der Weerden scored a brace for Netherlands by converting two penalty corners.

Netherlands benched their No.1 goal-keeper Jaap Stockmann and instead of him Pirmin Blaak took guard between the sticks. India were without their versatile full-back Birendra Lakra due to injury.

Insipid first and second quarter

In the first quarter, chances were few and far between as both sides could not penetrate the centre-circle decisively. Netherlands’ Seve van Ass came close in the 12th minute but his shot from the edge of the semi-circle went wide off the post. India were again guilty of cheaply losing possession and were wasteful going upfront.

The second quarter started with some promise for the Dutch as P. R. Sreejesh was soon called into action in the 5th minute by Rogier Hofman but the latter’s shot was parried away easily by the Indian goalie. India, on the other hand finally mustered a chance as they received a penalty corner in the 9th minute but failed to convert it.

Goals galore in the second half

It was the third quarter where the match came into life as both the teams pressed hard. India were soon rewarded in the 3rd minute when a powerful stroke from Gurjinder Singh from outside the half-line was exquisitely flicked into the net by Sunil.

Stirred by the goal, the Dutch soon came with an answer as they earned a penalty corner immediately. Van Weerden coolly converted it by drilling into the right far corner of the net.

India, unperturbed by the resultant goal, soon surged ahead with two goals in quick succession. After a few scrambles and an attempt in the Dutch semi-circle, Manpreet fired one home. Not long after that, India eventually converted their third penalty corner when Rupinder hit it past Blaak to make it 3-1.

The Dutch, unwilling to give up, answered through Weerden again as they took full advantage of their second penalty corner with a superb finish. Nevertheless, India stood their ground till the end and didn’t choke this time.

As usual, Sreejesh was at his sublime best but a few words of appreciation are due for the India No. 2 goalie Harjot Singh too, who substituted the former in the final quarter. Harjot pulled out the save of the day at the very end of the match to ensure that India finished as winners.