A spirited India broke their 33-year-old medal jinx in a major international tournament as they came back from two goals down to stun defending champions the Netherlands 3-2 in the shoot-out after the
A spirited India broke their 33-year-old medal jinx in a major international tournament as they came back from two goals down to stun defending champions the Netherlands 3-2 in the shoot-out after the teams were tied 5-5 in regulation time in a thrilling bronze medal play-off match of the Hockey World League Final here on Sunday.
India last won a medal in an international tournament in 1982 when they beat Pakistan 5-4 in the Champions Trophy in Amsterdam.
In the shootout, the Indians prevailed 3-2 at the Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel Stadium and the win avenged India’s 1-3 defeat against the Netherlands in the pool stages of the tournament here. Birendra Lakra, Sardar Singh and Rupinderpal Singh were on target for the hosts in the shootout after two early misses.
Goalkeeper P.R. Sreejesh too deserves credit for denying the Oranje on their final try.After beginning the match on a slow note, India produced a fine show in the last two quarters to keep the world number two side silent with relentless attacks in the second half.
The Netherlands were quick to take a 2-0 lead in the first half, courtesy some sloppy defending from the hosts when Mirco Pruisjer (9th minute) and Niek van der Schoot (25th) scored two field goals to silence the capacity crowd.
It was a high intensity match which produced as many as six goals in the last 10 minutes, three each to India and the Netherlands.
The Indians, however, got their act together after the change of ends and Ramandeep Singh (39th minute) scored from a field strike before Rupinderpal Singh Singh converted a penalty corner in the 47th to level the scores.
With scores level at 2-2, the fourth and final quarter produced enthralling hockey as India attacked the Dutch citadel with more purpose and vigour and it resulted in another field goal for the hosts when Ramandeep (51st minute) scored his second of the day to silence his critics.
The last six minutes of the game produced as many as five goals with the Netherlands equalising three minutes later through Van der Weerden (54th) who converted a penalty corner.
But in the very next minute Rupinder scored his second of the day when he perfectly converted a penalty stroke.
It was raining goals as India took the lead in the next minute when Akashdeep Singh (56th) found the back of the Dutch net to give India a 5-3 lead. But the Dutchmen fought back valiantly to score two goals in the last two minutes to take the match into shootout.
