New Delhi: India suffered a heartbreaking loss to Belgium via penalty shootout after holding the world no. 3 side to 4-4 in regulation time in the final of the four-nations invitational tournament’s second leg at Hamilton, New Zealand.
It was Felix Denayer, Sebastien Dockier and Arthur van Doren who scored for Belgium in the shootout, while India missed all their chances.
Tanguy Cosyns (41), Cedric Charlier (43), Amaury Keusters (51’) and Felix Denayer (56’) scored during regulation time.
For India, Ramandeep Singh (29’, 53’), Nilakanta Sharma (42’) and Mandeep Singh (49’) were the goal scorers.
Earlier, Japan beat New Zealand 4-1 in the shootout for bronze after the two teams were locked 1-1 in regulation time.
It was a steady start for India as they were made to work hard to keep the ball. The Belgian attack kept goalkeeper Sreejesh P.R. busy through the first quarter with as many as three penalty corners, including a penalty stroke. Sreejesh was up to the task, lunging to his right to save. Besides, he also saved the penalty stroke taken by Loick Luypaert.
India took the lead, thanks to clever some work by Mandeep in finding Ramandeep at the top of the circle. Ramandeep had the time to control the ball and made it 1-0.
Action intensified in the third quarter with Belgium upping their attack, winning an equalizer in the 41st minute through Tanguy Cosyns’s well-executed PC.
Moments later, Nilakanta Sharma was quick to pick up an assist from Mandeep to strike the ball past Vincent Vanasch to make it 2-1. But Belgium equalised in the following minute, via Cedric Charlier using reverse hit to send the ball between Sreejesh’s legs.
Four goals were scored in the final quarter as the teams went into the shootout.
