Did India Put Up a Strong Fight Against the Netherlands in FIH Hockey Pro League?

Amstelveen, June 9 (NationPress) In a gripping encounter, the Indian Men’s Hockey Team faced a narrow defeat of 2-3 against the Netherlands during the FIH Hockey Pro League 2024/25 (Men’s) at the Wagener Hockey Stadium in Amstelveen, Netherlands.

Abhishek (20') and Jugraj Singh (54') each found the back of the net for India, while the goals for the Netherlands came from Thijs van Dam (24’), Tjep Hoedemakers (33’), and Jip Janssen (57’).

India kicked off the first quarter with a determined approach, aiming to dominate the game by holding possession and executing swift passes to break through the opposition’s defence. In the sixth minute, forward Abhishek had a chance to put India ahead, but his powerful shot just missed the target. The Netherlands countered, aiming for quick attacks and creating several scoring opportunities, but the Indian defence stood strong, absorbing pressure while challenging the Dutch backline. Despite the fast-paced action, the first quarter concluded without any goals.

The second quarter saw the Netherlands increase their energy, adopting a more aggressive style and almost taking the lead with two close attempts. India maintained their composure, sticking to their possession-based game and dictating play through the midfield. They earned their first penalty corner, but Harmanpreet Singh’s attempt was deflected away. Eventually, India’s persistence bore fruit when Abhishek (20th), celebrating his 100th international match, skillfully broke free from his marker to score with a well-timed pass from Shilanand Lakra, putting India ahead 1-0.

However, the lead was short-lived as just four minutes later, Dutch captain Thierry Brinkman surged into the circle and set up Thijs van Dam (24’), who calmly equalized at 1-1. The rest of the quarter saw both teams probing for chances, but they entered halftime locked at one goal each.

The Netherlands emerged with renewed vigor in the third quarter, pressing high and disrupting India’s flow by intercepting passes in midfield. Their efforts paid off when Floris Wortelboer sent a precise cross to Tjep Hoedemakers (33’), whose shot managed to slip past Indian goalkeeper Krishan Bahadur Pathak to give the home side a 2-1 advantage. Energized by the goal, the Netherlands kept pressing and earned a penalty corner, but failed to convert. India, shifting to a counter-attacking approach, generated several penalty corners but could not find the equalizer, leading into the final quarter with the Netherlands ahead.

The last quarter saw India ramp up their efforts, quickly passing and entering the Dutch circle in search of an equalizer. With just under seven minutes to go, Abhishek narrowly missed scoring again with a shot that hit the side netting. India continued to press hard and earned a fourth penalty corner. This time, Jugraj Singh (54’) found the net, leveling the score at 2-2.

Shortly after, India had a golden opportunity to take the lead when Lalit Kumar Upadhyay faced Dutch goalkeeper Maurits Visser one-on-one, but his cheeky attempt was thwarted by Visser’s quick reflexes. The Netherlands responded quickly, converting a penalty corner in the dying minutes as Jip Janssen (57’) restored their lead. Despite India’s last-ditch efforts in the closing moments, the Dutch defence remained resolute, sealing a thrilling 3-2 victory.

This match was particularly significant for Abhishek, who marked his 100th international appearance for India since debuting in 2022. The 25-year-old has been a crucial player in India's lineup, scoring 39 international goals thus far. His contributions have been vital in India’s recent achievements, including winning the Gold medal at the Hero Asian Champions Trophy China 2024, Bronze at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Silver at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, and Gold at the Asian Games Hangzhou 2022.

Currently, India is positioned fourth in the standings, having accumulated 15 points from 10 matches. They are set to face Argentina next on June 11.