Netherlands cut disjointed India to size with 2-0 win

The Indian men’s hockey team’s campaign in the first Hockey World League semifinals in Rotterdam began on a bumpy note when they barely hung on to a 4-4 draw against Ireland after twice holding the lead.

It was never going to be easy when they took on Olympic silver medallists and world number three Netherlands on Saturday.

And the home side showed that in abundance as they eased past India, 2-0, to post their first win of the tournament following their 3-3 draw with New Zealand in their opening tie.

Even before the Indians had settled down, the Netherlands, playing in front of a boisterous home crowd, opened the scoring off their first attacking move of the match in the 2^nd minute, when Billy Bakker banged home beating Indian goalkeeper PR Sreejesh all ends up.

Bakker nearly doubled the advantage in the 8^th minute his reverse hit forced a fine save from PR Sreejesh.

India played into the hands of the Netherlands, who controlled possession for most part of the first half.

The Netherlands made it 2-0 in the 20^th minute when Jeroen Hertzberger converted a penalty stroke after one of their attacks had hit an Indian player on the goal-line. It was Jeroen Hertzberger’s third goal of the tournament.

India earned their first penalty corner in the 24^th minute but Rupinder Pal Singh’s drag-flick sailed wide.

The Dutch looked dangerous in the 33^rd minute when Sander Baart dodged past three Indian players before he was thwarted as the home side led 2-0 at half-time.

The Netherlands maintained sustained pressure in the second half. They won their first short corner after Vokkaliga Raghunarh made a blemish inside the ‘D’.

India forced their second PC in the 45^th minute when SV Sunil’s shot was not well saved by Jaap Stockmann, but they could not profit from it.

The frustration of the Indians increased when Rupinder Pal Singh failed to convert their third short corner in the 49^th minute when his grounder was well saved by Jaap Stockmann.

The sense of urgency was clearly visible in the Indian forwardline. Akashdeep Singh engineered the fourth penalty corner but Sandeep Singh’s first crack at the Dutch cage was foiled by Jaap Stockmann.

The Netherlands created their second penalty corner in the 60^th minute but the Indian defence nullified that move.

India pressed hard in the dying moments of play.

Nitin missed a sitter in the 67^th minute after he was fed from outside the ‘D’.

The Blueshirts looked like sealing a consolation goal in the 69^th minute when Manpreet Singh set up Shivendra Singh with a reverse hit but the latter could not deflect.

The Dutch soaked all the Indian pressure to win 2-0.

The Netherlands had beaten India 3-2 in their last meeting in the 2012 London Olympics – like this match, they scored all their goals in the first half to emerge triumphant.