Cautious in the first half and then rough and tough in the next, India did try force a draw but could not prevent their rival from entering the Quarters after conceding a late penalty corner goal to Mink van der Weerden.
With three wins and a draw, Dutch reached the knock out stage, while India with six points need to await for their last match against Canada to see themselves in the knock out.
This is Mink’s seventh goal, still holding him atop the scorer’s list.
After a dull, barren first half where both teams content in exploring each other, the spark was lit the moment third quarter started.
Rogier Hofman sent a thundering shot to give Dutch the lead when clock read 31.43 (1-0).
In an emotionally surcharged atmosphere, which saw two Indians getting almost same time yellow card suspensions, the Dutch came out with a penalty corner conversion through Mink van der weerden to seal the match in their favour 2-1.
The Dutch winner came in the 54th minute.
Earlier, Raghunath levelled the score 1-1 with India’s second penalty corner in the third quarter.
India got half a dozen penalty corners as the match closed in, but Raghu and Rupinder Pal Singh, who alternatively took the drags, could not beat Jaap Stockmann, the world’s No.1 goalkeeper.
Flawless and precision hockey dominate the India-Netherland’ match, with no side intent to take risk, considering the formidable attacking strength of each other.
As a result, a boring kind of hockey was being dished out where excepting a few close shaves from weel-rooted Indian goalie Sreejesh, there was nothing worth about.
Fag end of first quarter SV Sunil bent as much as possible to send a minus from right baseline inside D, but rival goalie Jaap Stockmann cleared the feeble push effected hardly a yard in front of him by an Indian forward. It was the closest Indians came to make a change in the scoreboard.
Dutch on the other hand, made some good circle entries from deep left, as a result of good right flank attacks, but they could not get into wonted attacking mode.
However, India suffered a body blow when first SV Sunil, and within moments Raghunath got yellow card suspensions. Raghu elbowed a chasing defender near the goalmouth and his penalty was stretched to 10 minutes.
India now need a draw to finish fourth in the pool in its last match (Vs Canada