India, Holland split points again
UTHRA GANESAN
CHANDIGARH,
European champions dominate league match, but hosts strike back twice to finish with 2-2 draw
FOR once, India did not take their foot off the pedal in the dying moments. And for once, the team looked like realising that a hockey match lasts 70 minutes and it’s not over till the final whistle is blown.
Sure enough, there was pressure. Holland earned two penalty corners in the last minute, but goalkeeper Baljit Singh held his nerves, helping the hosts draw with the European champions 2-2 in the Gold Cup on Tuesday, as both teams almost made their final spots sure.
The result betrayed the intensity on the turf. Keen to prove a point, India came out with flying colours, playing as a unit and resting all doubts over ‘senior’ players. The match was not as pulsating as the 4-4 draw in the previous game between the two teams, but that was expected. “The scores were low and if they go even lower, I am not bothered about it, I am more concerned about the development and testing of my players,” said Dutch coach Michel van den Heuvel. Clearing the test THE Indians, too, were tested, and passed. The teams started cautiously, spending the first 15 minutes sizing up the opposition. India got a chance in the fifth minute when Shivendra Singh passed the ball on the run to Prabhjot Singh inside the circle but the latter failed to find an unmarked Tushar Khandker.
Thereafter, the Dutch tried a couple of forays into the Indian circle but Baljit was up to the task. The midfield is the engine of any hockey team, and on Wednesday, it worked overtime for India to ensure the unit kept working smoothly. Arjun Halappa, Vikram Pillay, Ignace Tirkey, Gurbaj Singh and Rajpal combined in perfect harmony to keep feeding the forwards.
Since three of the five are ‘comeback’ men, who are also in the midst of a selection row, they needed to prove they weren’t over the hill.
“As long as players are fit and up to international standards, and I am the coach, age won’t be an issue,” reiterated Harendra Singh after the match.
The Dutch, on the other hand, appeared to be trying out new combinations and patterns. Though the game wasn’t as tight as the one against Germany, they were not going all out, as is their wont. They kept at tacking through either flank and took lead in the 32nd minute when Jeroen Hertzberger shot the ball in from the top of the striking circle, cutting through the Indian defence. Beyond doubt INDIA drew parity in the 38th minute when Shivendra scored during a goalmouth melee. Pillay got the ball on the left and passed it on to Halappa, lurking just inside the circle, and the latter took the hit. It appeared the ball had crossed the goal line though it did not hit the boards, and while umpire Kim Hong Lae hesitated to blow the whistle, Shivendra tapped the ball in to put it beyond doubt.
The Dutch earned two successive penalty corners and Geert-Jan Derikx scored off the second but India levelled through Prabhjot off a free hit two minutes later. India could have taken lead but the forwards missed a few chances. India now play Germany on Friday.