London: Back in Olympics frame after an eight year sabbatical Indian Hockey Team showed that they are ready to catch up on the lost time and put up a brave show in their opening match of 2012 London Olympics to lose 2-3 against Netherlands in a group b encounter at the Riverbank Arena here yesterday.
Lack of co-ordination and proper linkages saw India concede two goals in the first half but then a spirited performance helped them equalize in the second half.
But then few minutes later Netherlands scored their third goal and which turned out to be the eventual winning goal.
India ranked 10 and with only two of their players with Olympics experience started the match as an underdog against the third ranked Netherlands and did produce a shaky start.
But in spite of their tentative play they got a real good chance at going a goal up in the match when they earned the first short corner of the match.
With star drag flicker Sandeep Singh starting on the bench, V R Raghunath took up the responsibility but then he failed to convert.
After the initial surge by India, the tempo of the game however slowed down with the Dutch taking control in the middle. Netherlands after settling in drew the first blood in the 20th minute through Robert van der Horst with shot from top of circle.
The Dutch continued to exert pressure on the defensive Indian side and scored their second goal from a penalty corner in the 28th minute after
Roderick Weusthof's low flick crawled rolled past the goal-line after finding Manpreet Singh's stick on the way.
After the change of ends, Indians came out with a refreshed energy and defended brilliantly to save a goal scoring attempt by the Dutch. India showing better co-ordination in the second half got their opening goal in the 45th minute when Tushar Khandekar's cross from the left flank hit the far post and rebounded into the circle and Dharamvir Singh seizing the opportunity fired in to sound the cage.
India got the equalizer three minutes later drew level when Gurwinder Chandi passed the ball to Shivendra Singh, who nudged it in for India's second goal.
But India joy was short-lived as the penalty corner specialist Mink van der Weerden put Netherlands ahead with a drag flick.
After that it was a catching up game for the Indian and they did make some great moves to pierce the Dutch defenders but then strikers led them down as they failed to take any shots.
India will next face New Zealand in their second Group B match on Wednesday.
By Indian Sports New Network
