Unbelievable India stun Netherlands to clinch bronze in HWL finals

After suffering a 0-1 defeat against Belgium on Saturday in the semi-final, India were looking for revenge against Netherlands for the 3-1 hammering they received in the group stages. The head-to-head record between the teams was abysmally loaded against the Indians – 1-17 in the last 18 matches against Netherlands, which came during the Champions Trophy last year.

The Dutch started the second quarter by dominating possession but Sreejesh once again was the saviour for India as his saves kept India from going 2-0. However, the Men in Orange finally found their second goal with a reverse hit from Niek van der Schoot in the 25th minute.

Netherlands almost went 3-0 ahead but for two glorious opportunities going agonisingly wide of the Indian goal. India won their third penalty corner in 13th minute; however, poor trapping by the Indians saw the chance go begging.

With Netherlands squandering opportunities, India pulled one goal back in the 39th minute through Ramandeep Singh. With the crowd powering them on, India pushed hard in the last quarter in search of the equalizer. India began the comeback in the 47th minute with Rupinder Pal Singh’s drag flick beating Dutch goalie Pirmin Blaak from a penalty corner to make it 2-2.

The last ten minutes were an absolute mayhem as both teams pushed forward for more goals. Netherlands won themselves a penalty corner in the 53rd minute through a foot foul by India and Mink Van Der Weerden leveled things up through his drag flick to provide another twist to the match. Sreejesh was completely beaten with Van Der Weerden’s drag flick crashing into the top of the goal.

India won their own penalty corner in the next minute, and was further awarded a penalty stroke after the flick struck a Dutch defender on the line. Rupinder Pal Singh successfully converted the penalty corner to put India ahead again. India increased their lead within one minute as Sardar Singh’s brilliant play found Akashdeep Singh in the middle as his easy tap-in put India 5-3.

The roller-coaster match took another turn with Netherlands scoring from a penalty stroke. Mink Van Der Weerden stepped up to convert the stroke to close the gap on India to one goal. With four seconds left for the final hooter, Der Weerden stunned the crowd at Raipur with a searing shot to level 5-5 and force a shootout for the bronze.

PR Sreejesh’s heroics in front of the goal continued as he stopped Netherlands from scoring their fifth attempt. Dutch goalie Pirmin Blaak fouled Manpreet Singh in the last attempt to give India a penalty stroke to win the match. Rupinder Pal Singh stepped up to convert his attempt to propel India to the bronze in the Hockey World League Finals 2015.

Rupinder Pal scores from the spot to win the bronze medal for India

— FIH (@FIH_Hockey)