KOLKATA: The Indian males’s hockey staff as soon as once more held the world No. 1 aspect the Netherlands to a draw after regulation time of their FIH Professional League match.It was the second time in as many video games that Harmanpreet Singh & Co. had been in a position to try this because the match completed 1-1 after 60 minutes at Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela on Wednesday. However not like final time, India couldn’t get the higher of them within the penalty shoot-outs because it went 4-2 for the Dutch.Whereas PR Sreejesh helped India earn two shoot-out wins in Professional League this season, it was Krishan Bahadur Pathak who was given his first alternative.He did make one save however Shamsher Singh and Sukhjeet Singh each missed their pictures because the Dutch grabbed the bonus level.Regardless of the shootout end result, it was fairly a stable efficiency from the hosts and coach Craig Fulton can be more than pleased with the way in which they defended after which went on the offensive at any time when they’d the chance.“We want to gain more perspective of our game and develop our game with the squad that we have. It’s just at different phases that we have to do different things and do them better,” Fulton had stated forward of India’s matches in Rourkela they usually did simply that on Wednesday.Over lengthy intervals, the Dutch, who had taken the lead early on, managed the sport, saved the possession and slowed the tempo to nearly a stroll. However India didn’t rush. They remained affected person, soaked within the strain and went for full press to create the possibilities. And after they did that, the Dutch didn’t all the time have a solution.Though it was few and much between in the course of the first half, the second half noticed India doing it extra typically they usually grabbed their first PC early within the third quarter. Harmanpreet couldn’t convert it however jiffy later, India earned two extra PCs.The primary from Jugraj Singh went in however the whistle had already been blown as a result of one of many Dutch defenders had damaged early. Nonetheless, in the course of the retake India discovered the goal ultimately within the thirty eighth minute. Jugraj took it as soon as once more and the ball was going broad. Nonetheless, Brinkman saved it in and Gurjant Singh collected the ball, performed it again to Hardik Singh, who made it 1-1.Hardik not solely scored the purpose however it was his aerial ball initially that helped India earn the PC within the first place. Not solely Hardik however the staff as an entire saved utilizing the aerial balls to good impact all through the sport and they’re getting higher at it each day.They’re certain to maintain engaged on it of their subsequent sport too which shall be towards Australia, who beat Spain 4-1 earlier within the day.Earlier, it was Floris Middendorp who scored the opener for the Netherlands within the fourth minute after the guests made a very good run into the D. Koen Bijen performed the ball from the best in direction of Pathak and the Indian goalkeeper made a poor clearance.It fell proper in entrance of Middendorp, who got here working down earlier than slamming it dwelling previous Pathak. The Indian goalkeeper, nonetheless, made it up by making a double save late within the first quarter.
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