S2H Team
Warhorses Sreejesh and Harmanpreet helped India grab a bonus point against top-ranked Netherlands in an FIH Pro League men’s match at the Kalinga stadium in Bhubaneswar on Sunday.
First, captain Harmanpreet Singh celebrated his 200th cap with his 172nd goal, and what better time to score with his lethal drag-flick than two minutes from time to level scores at 2-2 and take the contest into the shootout!
There again he rose to the occasion by converting his shootout attempt with consummate ease after Sreejesh, the iconic goalkeeper, brought off a stupendous save to thwart the Dutch from their first.
Sreejesh saved another to pave the way for a 4-2 verdict, secured by Shamsher who beat Maurits Visser with a minimum of fuss to win the tiebreaker with a round left and send the stands into raptures.
India and The Netherlands began the five-nation mini-tournament, a subset of the league, with comprehensive victories on Saturday. India outplayed Spain 4-1, while the Netherlands beat debutants Ireland 5-1, raising expectations of a rousing encounter.
Hardik Singh struck first goal of India Vs Netherlands at Bhubaneswar. He was ‘Best Player’ too.
The two keen rivals of contrasting styles delivered what they promised and a fast-paced game ensued even though it sometimes appeared cagey.
The Dutch are ranked No. 1, India No. 3, and fans will recall a taut match won 2-1 by the European powerhouse in the 2018 World Cup quarterfinal at the venue.
It appeared to follow the same script with India taking the lead, the Netherlands equalizing seconds before a break (half-time here as opposed to the first quarter break), and then going ahead. However, Harmanpreet ensured there would be no encore by first astutely calling for a referral for a penalty corner and then scoring to restore parity.
After the Netherlands, forcing the pace, went close through Tjep Hoedemaker and threatened often through Thierry Brinkman, son of the legend Jacques, Player-of-the-Match Hardik Singh shot India ahead in the 13th minute, taking everyone by surprise by dispatching the ball to the far post after accepting Sukhjeet’s back pass in a crowded circle.
The Dutch equalized in the 30th minute when Jip Jansen drag-flicked to Sreejesh’s left to make it 1-1 and took the momentum into the third quarter when Koen Bijen pushed home a penalty corner rebound on the run off Pathak’s pad to make it 2-1.
It made for a rip-roaring final quarter as India continued to delight through Sukhjeet, Abhishek, Akashdeep, Lalit Upadhyay and the mercurial Mandeep but the Dutch, who like India emerged continental champions to book a direct ticket to the Paris Olympics, weathered the storm.
India then withdrew Sreejesh for an extra outfield player and a flurry of penalty corners led to their seventh — as many as their opponents forced — and set the stage for Harmanpreet’s rescue act.
Australia, who play India on February 15, staved off a fightback from Spain, to win 4-3 after frittering away a 3-0 lead.
The Netherlands lead the nine-nation league table with 12 points from six matches followed by Argentina with six from four in second spot and India with five from two in third.