(Hockey News) At the 100th Anniversary Spanish Hockey Federation – International Tournament, the Indian men’s hockey team faced off against the Netherlands, the recent winners of the FIH Hockey Pro League 2022-23 title. The match was intensely fought, resulting in a 1-1 draw.
Earlier, India suffered a loss to hosts Spain in their opening game. However, on Wednesday, they displayed a commendable comeback with an impressive performance.
The in-form captain, Harmanpreet Singh, scored India’s solitary goal in the 12th minute, while the Netherlands’ Jasper Brinkman leveled the score in the 40th minute.
Starting the game in an attacking mode, India capitalized on their early momentum, creating chances in the circle. Eventually, they took an early lead by earning a penalty corner.
Although it was the Dutch side that secured the first penalty corner of the match, the resulting flick missed wide to the left of the post.
However, when India was awarded a penalty corner in the 12th minute, they made no mistakes. Harmanpreet was in excellent form as he skillfully converted the opportunity, expertly guiding the ball past the Dutch goalkeeper. The 1-0 lead in the first quarter firmly placed India in control of the game.
During the second quarter, both teams had opportunities with penalty corners, but neither managed to convert them. Krishan Pathak, who replaced PR Sreejesh, made some remarkable saves, denying the opponents.
On the other hand, India kept the Dutch goalkeeper, Mauritis Visser, on his toes, earning consecutive penalty corners. However, they couldn’t capitalize on these chances to increase their lead.
As the first half came to a close, India maintained their narrow lead, and their confidence seemed to grow as they pursued further goals. Meanwhile, the Dutch team remained determined to find their first goal of the match.
The third quarter commenced with both teams earning a penalty corner each. The seasoned PR Sreejesh returned to the goalpost, displaying composure as he thwarted the opponents’ attempt to convert their penalty corner. Meanwhile, the Dutch goalkeeper, Visser, showcased his skills by denying India from scoring a second goal.
In a crucial moment, the experienced drag flicker, Jasper Brinkman, managed to break the deadlock for the Netherlands, leveling the scores with an impressive conversion of the penalty corner.
As the third quarter approached its conclusion, India launched an excellent counter-attack led by Harmanpreet. Despite their efforts, they were unable to find the gap to penetrate the Dutch circle.
Throughout the fourth quarter, tension remained high as both teams aggressively pushed for a lead. Despite creating numerous scoring opportunities, neither side was able to convert their chances.
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