S2H Team
The Netherlands prevented the decibels from reaching a crescendo with a shootout win over India in an FIH Pro League men’s match in Rourkela on Wednesday. Playing India in the Birsa Munda cauldron, the defending champions drew the high-voltage encounter 1-1 before clinching the tie-breaker 4-2 to pick up a bonus point they lost in the first meeting in Bhubaneswar.

Fans anticipated and were rewarded with a pacy encounter. India produced their expected flair and panache and the Netherlands countered with customary slick control and cohesion. The Dutch shot ahead in open play with four minutes gone through Floris Middendorp’s slap hit to the boards after goalkeeper Krishan Pathak padded away in goalmouth action that followed a long ball into the circle.

Hardkik Singh and others’ foot on air

India, who started with attacking intent, regained their tempo in a quest to bounce back. Hardik Singh once again provided the thrust, pulling the ball back from the right-hand goalline for omnipresent captain Harmanpreet Singh to send a cross to the far post that just failed to find a connection from Araijeet Singh Hundal.

Pathak, the iconic Sreejesh’s understudy, has snowballed in stature evident from his regular place in the starting line-up. The young goalkeeper effected a double save to deny the Dutch a two-goal cushion, first blocking top-scorer Jip Janssen’s drag-flick and then gloving Jorrit Croone’s attempt. The Netherlands appeared to be in control in the second quarter with purposeful raids that were not responded to by the home side who seemed wayward in their offensives.

India, however, started the third quarter positively and a long-awaited penalty corner arrived only for Harmanpreet to flick too high. The aerial ball, holding India in good stead in recent times, appeared to be another route to goal and the sublime execution of the ploy resulted in the equalizer — Hardik being at the start and end of it all. He dispatched one into the circle to force a penalty corner and turned injector-cum-scorer to beat goalkeeper Dirk Meijer.

Winds in their sails, Jugraj tested Meijer but the third quarter ended with the Dutch rueing a chance after Duco Telgenkamp’s gumption won the ball from a faltering Indian defence but failed to get the better of Pathak. The Netherlands stepped on the gas in the final quarter and the high press had the Indian defence on their toes. At the hub of the Dutch sorties was Player-of-the-Match Brinkman but his delightful double give-and-go with Terrance Pieters just rolled over the goal line with the defence at sixes and sevens.

A lost referral denied India a PC with only seconds remaining and set the stage for the ever-entertaining shootout — a prospect relished by the large crowd.

Croon, Brinkman, Duco Telgenkamp and Joep de Mol were spot on with their attempts, the only failure being Jonas De Geus. India were successful through Hundal and Lalit Kumar Upadhyay with Sukhjeet and Shasmsher failing.

The Dutch ride high on top of the nine-nation table with 20 points from 10 matches with Australia, who beat Spain 4-1 earlier in the day, collecting 15 from five in second spot. Argentina are third with 13 from eight and India fourth with 11 from six.

Spain are seventh with four points from six outings while Ireland, the fifth team here in Rourkela, are last having lost all five matches they have played so far.

On Thursday, Australia take on Ireland at 1730IST followed by Spain playing The Netherlands at 1930IST. India play Australia next on February 24 at 1930IST.