Indian women’s hockey team lose 0-5 to Belgium in the second match of their FIH Pro League tie

Barbara
Nelen
(2′),
Charlotte
Englebert
(4′),
Abi
Raye
(19′),
Stephanie
Vanden
Borre
(23′)
and
Ambre
Ballenghein
(36′)
scored
a
goal
each
for
the
hosts
Belgium.

The
match
started
in
almost
a
similar
fashion
as
yesterday,
with
Belgium’s
Barbara
Nelen
giving
the
hosts
an
early
lead
in
the
second
minute.
India
were
caught
off
guard
in
the
counterattack,
leaving
the
right
flank
completely
open
for
Barbara,
who
comfortably
found
the
back
of
the
net
from
the
far
post.

Two
minutes
later,
the
hosts
doubled
their
lead
through
Charlotte
Englebert.
Belgium
nearly
had
their
third
goal
in
the
seventh
minute,
but
the
decision
was
overturned
on
India’s
review
as
a
Belgian
foot
foul
was
found
before
the
goal.
Belgium
went
on
to
pile
pressure
on
India
through
their
attacking
moves,
but
it
was
Savita
who
stood
tall
and
kept
the
scores
2-0
at
the
end
of
the
first
quarter.

The
hosts
rode
on
the
momentum
as
they
started
the
second
quarter
aggressively
and
hold
most
of
the
possession
in
the
opening
minutes.
Young
Indian
custodian
Bichu
Devi,
who
came
in
as
a
substitution
in
this
quarter,
was
called
into
action
right
from
the
start
of
the
quarter.

During
Belgium’s
attack,
she
did
make
a
couple
of
rebound
saves,
but
Abi
Raye
was
successful
in
converting
the
third
attempt
and
gave
her
team
a
3-0
lead
in
the
19th
minute.
Belgium
went
on
to
add
a
fourth
goal
to
their
tally
through
Stephanie
Vanden
Borre,
who
duly
converted
the
Penalty
Corner
in
the
23rd
minute.
Dominating
the
proceedings,
the
hosts
earned
yet
another
Penalty
Corner
in
the
26th
minute,
but
Bichu
Devi
made
a
brilliant
save
to
deny
the
hosts
from
scoring.
In
the
closing
minutes,
India
earned
their
first
Penalty
Corner
of
the
match,
but
missed
out
on
converting
it,
thus
trailing
4-0
at
the
end
of
the
first
half.

India
started
the
third
quarter
cautiously
and
made
some
moves
inside
their
opponent’s
half,
but
Belgium
responded
quickly
and
went
on
to
stretch
their
lead
further
through
a
brilliant
effort
by
Amre
Ballenghienin
in
the
36th
minute.
Two
minutes
later,
India
did
find
the
back
of
the
net
through
Navneet,
but
the
goal
was
disallowed
as
Sharmila
didn’t
start
the
play
from
the
right
spot
after
winning
the
ball
on
a
foul.

An
improvised
attack
saw
India
earning
two
Penalty
Corners
in
the
dying
minutes
of
the
third
quarter,
but
they
missed
out
on
converting
their
chances.
The
first
attempt
by
Gurjit
was
denied
by
the
Belgium
goalkeeper,
while
the
second
attempt
by
Monika
went
off
target.

The
home
side
earned
the
Penalty
Corner
in
the
opening
minutes
of
the
final
quarter,
but
Monika
made
a
fine
save
on
the
right
corner.
The
latter
stage
of
the
final
quarter
saw
some
end-to-end
action,
with
both
teams
trying
to
make
inroads
in
each
other’s
striking
circle,
showcasing
some
attacking
and
defending
skills.

India
even
earned
a
Penalty
Corner
in
the
59th
minute,
but
Deep
Grace
Ekka’s
slap
shot
went
wide
and
missed
out
on
scoring,
thus
going
down
to
a
0-5
loss.

The
Indian
Women’s
Hockey
Team
will
next
face
Argentina
on
18
and
19
June
in
Rotterdam,
Netherlands.
Both
the
matches
will
be
played
at
1730
hrs
IST
and
will
be
telecasted
live
on
Star
Sports
First
and
Disney+
Hotstar.