The Indian men's hockey team won 5-1 win against reigning Olympic Champions Belgium in the ongoing FIH Hockey Pro League at the Lee Valley Stadium in London on Friday.
India Captain Harmanpreet Singh scored a brace (20', 30') while Vivek Sagar Prasad (2'), Amit Rohidas (29') and Dilpreet Singh (60') scored a goal each that helped the team avenge the 1-2 loss in their match against Belgium last week.
Seeking redemption from their previous encounter the Indian team began the match with intent and determination.
They wasted no time in setting the tone, scoring an impressive field goal in the second minute of the game. Gurjant Singh exhibited exceptional skill from the left flank and set up Vivek Sagar Prasad who found the net to give India an early lead.
Buoyed by the opening goal, India showcased excellent control over the ball and kept raiding Belgium's fort. Their relentless pressure on the Belgian defence paid off with newcomer Sanjay forcing an error from the experienced Emmanuel Stockbroekx, resulting in a penalty corner in India's favour.
But, they were unable to convert this chance which brought back memories from their previous encounter against Great Britain where several opportunities from penalty corners went abegging.
However, in the 20th minute, Harmanpreet Singh exorcised the penalty corner ghost and capitalised on a well-placed injection by Abhishek. Singh's powerful drag-flick found the bottom corner of the net to hand India a comfortable 2-0 lead. This advantage allowed the Indian team to dictate the game, dominate ball possession and consistently challenge the Belgian defence.
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India extended their lead to 3-0 in the 29th minute as they continued their attacking onslaught. Rajkumar Pal orchestrated the move and found Mandeep on the right flank. Instead of having a crack at goal, Mandeep passed the ball to Amit Rohidas, who had little trouble in finding the net.
Not content with their three-goal advantage, India further stretched their lead to 4-0 a minute later when they earned another penalty corner. Hardik Singh set Rohidas perfectly to attempt a flick. but the attempt was blocked by the Belgian goalkeeper Loic Van Doren. However, the rebound fell to Harmanpreet Singh, who pushed the ball into the net.
Entering the third quarter, Belgium sought to recover some lost pride and tested India with penalty corners in quick succession. But Indian goalkeeper Sreejesh exhibited exceptional skill between the sticks to deny Belgium a breakthrough.
Undeterred by Belgium's lone strike in the 46th minute, courtesy of William Ghislan's field goal, the Indian team maintained their composure and stuck to their game plan.
Determined to finish strong, they continued to mount attacks until the final whistle. Their efforts were rewarded in the 60th minute when Dilpreet Singh found the back of the net, securing India's fifth goal to seal the first victory of the Craig Fulton era.
The resounding victory against the reigning Olympic Champions will undoubtedly boost their confidence as they gear up to face Great Britain on June 3, 2023.
How to watch FIH Pro League matches featuring India?
The FIH Pro League matches can be watched on Star Sports First, Star Sports Select 2 and Star Sports Select 2 HD and can be streamed live on FanCode.
| TV channels | Streaming |
|---|---|
| Star Sports First, Star Sports Select 2 and Star Sports Select 2 HD | FanCode |
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