Despite playing their best match, and having struck lead twice, India had to share six goals and thus post second draw in three matches at Rotterdam in the Hockey World League semifinal phase.
Unless Ireland defeat Netherlands in the last pool match, India will engage second in the other pool Australia, in the Quarterfinal to be played on Tuesday.
Ire-Netherlands match was yet to commence when this report was filed.
India came up with three good goals, first by Mandeep Singh — which is also his first in the outing — that helped cancel out first half New Zealand goal struck by Marcus Child in the sixth minute. Then Raghu came up with a stunner, after Sandeep Singh played dummy, the stopper passing the ball to distant Raghu than adjoining Sandeep in the penalty corner drill.
This Raghu’s goal from India’s second and last penalty corner gave India lead (2-1) in the 47th min. This lead did not survive long as New Zealand pressed hard, and got the dividends when four minutes later Stephen Jennes scored an acrobatic goal off a long pass from midfield.
Young Kothajit it was who again put India on top with an opportunistic goal in a melee.
This lead survived another 13 minutes.
Four minutes before the hooter, after Mandeep Singh and Nitin Thimmaiah — both have made their presence felt today at last — missed the target after their wonderful ball control and speed, New Zealand stunned Sreejesh with Blair Hilton striking.
Both teams played spirited high-end hockey in the second half, which saw five goals, and deservedly the match was drawn.
However, it was Couzins who missed a stroke, his strike hitting the left post, that turned out to be the turning point of the match.