S2H Team
The Netherlands got what they wanted — a stern challenge from India amid partisan support of around 10,000 in the Birsa Munda Stadium in Rourkela on Wednesday. The FIH Pro League women’s result, however, was 1-0 to the World, Olympic, and European champions and holders of the title. But it’s a scoreline that may feel like a draw for the Indian ladies.

There’s a notion going around that besides the Netherlands, all other teams here and those converging at the Paris Olympics are playing for the silver medal.

And, considering how brutal the Netherlands have been on some of the other leading ranked teams — Argentina (7-1), Great Britain (8-0), and Australia (6-2) in the current season, a solitary-goal defeat may well be a remarkable outcome.

The big question as the match started was how long India could delay the Dutch opening goal. The answer was 27 minutes. The deadlock was broken by Player-of-the-Match Felice Albers who reverse hit a rebound past goalkeeper and captain Savita Punia after Elzemiek Zandee had unleashed a salvo from the top of the circle.

Thoughts of the Dutch opening the floodgates, however, were misplaced. India’s pluck in defence frustrated the Netherlands and denied sharp-shooter Yibbi Jansen a goal from seven penalty corners.

That set a platform for the hosts to dominate the third quarter against their taller opponents, perhaps inspired by coach Janneke Schopman’s halftime chat that urged her girls to infuse more pace and energy into their game.

In a period of ascendancy, Mumtaz Khan fired just wide of the right post and moments later the Indian girls had the Dutch PC defence on tenterhooks with five awards in quick succession — one of which forced goalkeeper Anne Veenendaal to a smart save from Dipika, India’s drag-flicking hope.

A bizarre turn of events in the 43rd minute, however, appeared to undo India’s courage and fortitude when faced with a footrace for the ball from deep in Dutch territory, Savita rushed out of her circle to stick clear the ball, missed and saw the ball run into her foot. A penalty corner to the Dutch and a five-minute yellow for the Indian captain was the immediate consequence.

Kharibam Bichu Devi, the sprightly understudy to Savita, took the pitch with energy and confidence. Bichu responded to the challenge immediately, padding away danger and keeping the deficit to only one going into the final quarter. Bichu kept up the good work, blocking a Dutch essay from the top of the ‘D’ before Savita returned from the naughty chair.

The Indian captain, clearly aiming to make amends, stood in the way of Dutch scoring aspirations as the European powerhouse sought to extend their lead. With eight minutes to go, an umpire’s referral came to India’s rescue to reverse a penalty stroke decision and confine the award to a PC for a body block on the line and Savita responded magnificently from a re-award to keep her goal intact.

India, not just content on keeping it down to a narrow defeat, strove to take the contest into the shootout. The Dutch, however, endeavoured to put the match to bed as the minutes ticked by.

Luna Fokke shot well wide with only Savita at her mercy and hooter arrived with the rare sight of the Oranje running down the clock as the Indian 12th player — the thousands of home fans in the stands that Dutch coach Paul van Ass willed to perform — egged on the ladies in blue to score.

The Dutch, who beat India in Bhubaneswar 3-1, ride high on top of the nine-nation table with 30 points from 10 matches, China follow them at second with 12 from six with Australia nine from five. Argentina are fourth (five points from four) while India are fifth with three points from six matches, and play Australia next on February 17 at 1930IST.