The Indian men’s hockey team suffered a narrow 2-3 loss against the Netherlands at Hockey Club Rotterdam on Sunday.
Dilpreet Singh (10’) and Sukhjeet Singh (33’) scored for India, while Miles Bukkens (3’), Koen Bijen (23’), and Tijmen Reyenga (40’) found the net for the hosts, according to a press release.
The hosts began the game on the front foot, controlling possession as they looked to make early inroads. They piled on pressure with four penalty corners in quick succession and drew first blood when Miles Bukkens (3’) executed a fine reverse-hit finish past the Indian goalkeeper to give the Netherlands the lead.
Shilanand Lakra nearly brought India level soon after, hitting the post in the 8th minute. The visitors eventually found the equaliser through Dilpreet Singh (10’), after a sensational long pass from Harmanpreet Singh allowed him to fire home from a narrow angle.
With the lion’s share of possession in the second quarter, the Netherlands created several chances but could not find a way past Suraj Karkera. India looked dangerous on the counterattack, with Dilpreet Singh coming close to a second goal but being denied by the Dutch goalkeeper. The hosts eventually regained the lead as Koen Bijen (23’) finished with a first-time strike, making it 2-1 at halftime.
India began the second half by stringing together neat passes to control the tempo as they grew into the game. They earned their first penalty corner of the match and converted it through a well-worked routine finished by Sukhjeet Singh (33’), levelling the score at 2-2. The Dutch responded with a penalty corner variation of their own as Tijmen Reyenga (40’) fired his effort past the goalkeeper to restore their lead.
Chasing a one-goal deficit, India looked more positive in the final quarter and pushed the Netherlands back into their own half. The hosts defended in numbers as India continued searching for the equaliser through penalty corners. However, the Netherlands held firm to secure a 3-2 victory.
India will face Germany in their next match, scheduled for June 17 at 23:00 hrs (IST).
IANS
