India snapped a seven-match losing run in the FIH Pro League, as they beat Belgium 4-3 in their last game of the season in Antwerp on Sunday evening. In a see-saw battle, Harmanpreet Singh scored the winner just a minute before full-time, off a penalty stroke, after the two teams played out an end-to-end game of breathless hockey.
India didn’t start very well in the first quarter, and were caught out by Arthur de Sloover, who gave Belgium the lead with a lofted shot from the right, as Krishan Pathak was left swatting at thin air. However, India were much better in the second half.
They eventually got the goal that they deserved for their efforts, after a penalty corner variation saw Harmanpreet roll a dragflick into the path of Sukhjeet, who deflected the ball into the net. India’s lead didn’t really last long into the second half though.
Nicolas de Kerpel smashed a ball across goal from the left, and Suraj Karkera palmed it into the path of Thibeau Stockbroeckx, who slotted it into the empty net with ease.
However, India equalised just a minute later, as Sukhjeet got his second goal of the game, after the Belgian defenders just seemed to stop for a moment, following a foul on Abhishek outside the circle.
India took the lead soon after, as Amit Rohidas smashed home off a penalty corner. The lead didn’t last too long though, as the Belgians came back on terms through a penalty corner of their own, Hugo Labouchere scored his first international goal with a stunning dragflick that gave Karkera no chance.
The fourth quarter began with Dilpreet Singh missing a sitter from close range, and then it was a bit of a scrap, as there were no real quality chances. That was until the 59th minute, when the ball was heading to Sukhjeet in the circle, and de Sloover lead with the elbow into Sukhjeet’s back, forcing the TV umpire into awarding India a penalty stroke.
Harmanpreet made no mistake with it, and after multiple games where they conceded late goals to lose, it was a nice change-up to finish their campaign, as they scored a late winner, to take a little something out of what has, overall, been a wretched European leg of the Pro League for Craig Fulton’s side.
You can relive the match, as it happened, on our live blog below: