Dutch down India 3-1 in HWL Final

INDIA PLUNGED TO A SECOND LOSS in three matches, going down 1-3 to the Netherlands in their final Pool B match of the Hockey World League (HWL) Final at the Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel International Stadium in Raipur on Monday.

Mink van der Weerden broke the deadlock in the 36th minute. Mirco Pruijser (43rd) and Roel Bovendeert (54th) scored the next two goals for the European champions while Chingnelsana Singh (47th) scored the solitary goal for the 2014 Asian Games champions.

With this loss, India are certain to finish fourth in Pool B with one point, while the Netherlands (seven points) are assured of the top spot. World Cup 2014 bronze medallists Argentina (three) and Olympic champions Germany (two) will face each other in the other match later tonight.

It was a game that India played well in the first half but lost focus thereafter. They failed to create opportunities, looking passive, particularly in the final 30 minutes.

But their opening was bright with chances falling for both sides in the first quarter.

Sardar Singh passed it to Dharamvir Singh on the right flank and the latter cut into inside the box for Ramandeep Singh, whose tap in went straight on to goalkeeper Jaap Stockmaan.

Later, Manpreet Singh's drive from the top of the circle found a receiver in Danish Mujtaba, who ran out of space to produce a lethargic and inaccurate shot.

The Dutch also spilled their chances, Billy Bakker and Valentin Verga combining well but failed to pass the Indian defence, that was good in man-to-man marking.

Jeroen Hertzberger's pass from the left was too early for Constantin Jonker in another good opportunity that went missing for the silver medallists of the 2012 Olympics and 2014 World Cup.

The second quarter was more about possessional play as the teams operated through the flanks with India's captain Sardar Singh and Bakker from the Netherlands being in the thick of the things.

Birendra Lakra and visiting captain Robert van der Horst were also active.

In the 23rd minute, India's Chingnelsana had a good chance to break the deadlock but couldn't capitalise. The first two quarters remained goalless.

After the 30-minute break, the visitors were more organised as they played with purpose and precision.

Due to a messy defending from Lakra, the Dutch were awarded a penalty corner which was converted by van der Weerden. He fired a grounder to the right of Indian goalkeeper P.R. Sreejesh, who was beaten for both pace and space.

The Netherlands doubled their lead as Pruijser fired from close range after being set up by van der Weerden, who covered a fair amount of distance.

India responded well as experienced striker S.V. Sunil made a quick entry into the circle and forced a foot foul from a defender, thereby earning a penalty corner in the 47th minute.

Chingnelsana pounced on a rebound to make it 1-2 after Rupinderpal Singh's flick was blocked by Stockmaan.

But the Netherlands regained their two-goal cushion as Bovendeert clinically finished from the right after a brilliant build-up play by Bakker in the 54th minute.

After conceding the goal, India tried their best with Akashdeep and Ramandeep getting two good chances but they failed to find the equaliser.