Despite conceding a goal each in the beginning and at the end of the match,India struck six times inbetween to post its first victory in five matches today at Rotterdam.

The 5-8th place match is not a thriller, but it threatened to be when France used an Indian laxity to go up in the third minute.

India, who beat France 8-1 in the Delhi Olympic Qualifier last March, came with vengence and posted six goals to take the match with it.

Akashdeep Singh deflected a rebound off rival goalie to een out the lead in the tenth minutes, and then V Raghunath sent a great flick into the far right corner of the net to give India lead which never lost thereafter.

Three minutes before half time, SV Sunil capped his solo that started with Changlansana’s timely feed, to give India 3-1 lead at half time.

The second half belonged to Mandeep Singh who struck second and last in this spell, while captain Sardar Singh opportunistically deflected a Dharamvir feed to give india 4-1 lead early in the second half.

France got a PC at the stroke of full time, umpire cleared the drill, but they went for referral, which stood, France, who earlier wasted four PCs, now struck a consolation.