India men lose 2-4 to Netherlands in European Tour

New Delhi: India fought hard before slumping to its second defeat of the European tour, losing 2-4 to The Netherlands at The Hague.

The Netherlands started the game on an attacking mode yesterday, as Mirco Pruyser successfully sliced in a goal as early as in the ninth minute of the game. The Indians were in for a rude shock as Glenn Schuurman and Tristan Algera pumped in two more goals in the 15th and the 28th minutes respectively, to hand The Netherlands a comfortable 3-0 lead at the midway mark. The Indians, however, produced a spirited fightback in the second half and pulled a goal back through SK Uthappa (37th minute) before captain Sardar Singh (40th) registered his name in the scoresheet after a long time to bring life back into the match. But the Dutchmen made life difficult for India in the 60th minute when Billy Baker slammed home to make the scoreline 4-2 in their favour. The Indian men had earlier thrashed Leiden Hockey Club 7-0 in the first build-up game at Oegstgeest before playing out a 3-3 draw with HGC Hockey Club in the next game of the tour, organised as preparation for the FIH men`s World Cup to be held at The Hague from May 31 to June 15. The Sardar Singh-led side slumped to its first defeat in the tour -- 1-2 against Belgium -- in their next game. India will play their fifth and the last build up game of the tour against The Netherlands on Saturday.