The second minute goal by Dutch striker Marten Eikelboom not only snatched the initiative of the match but also upset the rhythm of the Indian team even before it could get into act. Indian forwards though earned many scoring opportunities in the game but their overall performance was demoralizing. Neither they moved smoothly nor combined productively. They played more individually and in the process lost the ball to their opponents on numerous occasions and invited trouble for the team. On the other hand Dutch played well planned and composed game and marked the Indian key players beautifully. Their passing was accurate and defence solid. They used their wingers effectively who pierced the Indian defence with their sharp crosses on number of occasions.

India conceded the first goal of the match as early as in the second minute. It was an intolerable lapse on part of the new comer Sandeep Singh who let slip the ball from his possession just on top of the D and could not recover quickly to make amends for this recklessness. Unmarked and alert Eikelboom received the ball from Brouwer just in front of the goal mouth and made no mistake in putting the ball into goal for Dutch delight. Stunned Indian team took many precious minutes to overcome this setback. India got few chances thereafter in the first half itself but the Dutch defence stood out firmly on their way. India came close to scoring in the eleventh minute of the first half when they earned their first penalty corner of the match but Sandeep Singh’s drag flick was brilliantly saved by the goal keeper Guus Vogels.

India didwell to keep the score board 0-1 at the half time but in the second session Netherlands scored two quick goals to seal the Indian fate. The second goal was a beauty as well as an example of calm mind and effective utilization of the opportunity. The veteran striker Teun de Nooijer who received the waist high ball to his left hardly had time to position himself. He quickly withdrew himself from the line of the ball and glided the ball with the blade of the stick into the goal. Four minutes later drag flicker Taeke Taekema scored another stunner. In the dying minutes of the game Gagan Ajit Singh scored a face saving goal for India off the third penalty corner.

It was the 9th meeting between the two countries in the Olympic arena and the only second defeat for India at the hands of the defending Olympic champion.

The 1-3 loss in the first match has made India’s way a little more difficult as far as a semi final berth is concerned. Though the out come of the match is not unexpected but the way Indian forwards have performed, have brought the panic in the Indian camp. Considered as a strong feature of this Indian team the forward line has to find its bearings in the next match if India want to stay in the competition. They have to improve not only their finishing but also leave the tendency of hanging on the ball unnecessarily for long. Their next match is against South Africa on Tuesday August 17. A victory with a handsome margin will keep India not only in contention but also provide much needed boost to diminishing morale.

The Author can be contacted at arunarnaw@yahoo.com