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Champions Trophy Hockey: India end 18-year drought, beat highly-rated Netherlands

Manpreet Singh scored the 47th minute winner which brought India a much-needed win in this tournament.

India’s Manpreet Singh vies for the ball with Netherlands player in Bhubaneshwar on Wednesday. (Source: AP)

The record books will forever show Manpreet Singh as the scorer of the goal that put India in front against the mighty Dutch in the 47th minute. The man of the match award he later received affirmed the influence he exerted in the midfield. But it’ll be harsh on Danish Mujtaba if his contribution to scoring that goal goes unnoticed. The importance of that goal in the overall context of the match cannot go overlooked as well.

From the moment since Holland had equalised in the 36th minute through a Mink van der Weerden drag-flick, an eerie silence had gripped the overflowing Kalinga Stadium. Errors started to creep into India’s game and for the first time in the match, Holland had started to dictate terms.

It was a test of character for India. They were looking for inspiration on field, and there were plenty of sources too. Skipper Sardar Singh in the midfield, SV Sunil up front, Gurbaj Singh on the right and the outstanding Gurjinder Singh in the defence. But little did they know that it would be the diminutive Mujtaba.

Out of nowhere, Mujtaba found himself inside Holland’s ‘D’ with the ball. With no one around him, he tried his luck. But his feeble attempt was easily blocked by goalkeeper Pirmin Blaak. Mujtaba, who had lost his balance while taking the first shot, latched on to the rebound.

He laid flat on the pitch surrounded by three Dutch defenders but somehow managed another shot. Blaak parried it away towards Manpreet, who had the space and time to slot it past the keeper in the third attempt.

The perseverance and determination Mujtaba showed had been lacking in India’s opening two matches of the Champions Trophy. On a pleasant Tuesday evening, those were the key reasons why India managed the biggest upset of the tournament so far, beating second-ranked Holland 3-2.

It was India’s first win over the Dutch in 18 years and first-ever in Champions Trophy since the 1986 edition. Such is the format of the eight-nation competition that all teams will feature in Thursday’s quarterfinals. The win, though, has helped India interchange positions with Australia in their group. The hosts, now placed third, will avoid facing the rampaging Englishmen in the last-eight but will take on an equally dangerous Belgium.

India played a high-press game, surprising Holland with their attacking mindset since the first whistle. The Dutch defence, led by van der Weerden, was put under constant pressure by the Indian forwards. Sunil continued to trouble the back line with his sprints down the wings. Dharamvir Singh and Gurbaj combined well on the right, especially the former with his precise crosses.

Gurjinder bailed out the defence from tricky situations more than once and darted in dangerous long balls into the Holland half. He also opened India’s scoring, converting a penalty corner in the 33rd minute. His defence partner Rupinderpal Singh converted his drag flick to double India’s lead and provide a safety net. In the end, it proved to be decisive as van der Weerden scored his second from penalty corner in the 58th minute. With just one goal separating the two teams, Indian players hung on for their lives for the final 90 seconds.