Debutants steer the Netherlands to 4-1 win over India in FIH Pro League

Debutants steered the Netherlands to a convincing 4-1 win over India in the FIH Pro League Triangular Tournament in Eindhoven in the Netherlands on Wednesday.

Playing with 10 players with 0-4 caps, the home team overcame 0-1 deficit to earn full points from the first game.

While Mandeep Mor (21) was the least experienced Indian player on the field, the Netherlands had seven debutants in its team. Former Indian skipper Manpreet Singh (327) was the most experienced player on the field. For the home team, it was Pirmil Blaak (132) as the senior most player.

India had taken the lead in the 10^th minute when skipper Harmanpreet Singh, after two penalty corner flicks, converted a penalty stroke to put the visitors ahead. In fact, in the closing stages of the game, India earned its sixth penalty corner and a penalty stroke but failed to utilize these opportunities to reduce the margin.

Pepijn Reyenga, playing his first international for the Netherlands seniors, justified his induction, with a brilliant field goal in the opening minute of the second session. He was followed by Boris Burkhardt, also a debutant, who made no mistake with a penalty corner award.

Not far behind was yet another debutant, Duco Telgenkamp, who had a brilliant brace to his credit with superb field goals in the 40^th and 57^th minutes.

It was India’s fifth match overseas of the current FIH Pro League. India still remains at number two spot in the table after completing 13 games with six wins. India takes on Pan American champions Argentina tomorrow.