The Indian women's hockey team wasted chances galore to lose 2-4 to reigning Olympic champions Netherlands in a FIH Pro League match in Bhubaneswar on Monday. (More Hockey News)
The Indians🅘 had the better share of scoring chances -- 13 penalty corners as against Netherlands' just three -- but they couldn't capitalise on the opportunities.
♛ Netherlands scored through Emma Reijnen (7th minute), Felice Albers (34th, 47th) and Fay van der Elst (40th) to come out winners.
𒐪 India's both goals came from penalty corner conversions by Udita (18th, 42nd).
🐼 It was stalwart India goalkeeper and former skipper Savita Punia's 300th international match but she was beaten in the seventh minute by a reverse hit from a Reijnen.
ꦫ The Indians, however, didn't sit back and secured back-to-back penalty corners soon but wasted both.
ඣ Netherlands scored through Albers from a rebound after Savita saved the initial flick.
𒀰 The Indians kept up the intensity in the second quarter and secured two more penalty corners, the second of which was converted by Udita. Netherlands secured a penalty corner in the 25th minute, but India defended stoutly.
𓆉 But four minutes after the change of ends, Albers picked up a loose ball on the right flank and dodged past a couple of Indian defenders before slotting it home with a fine reverse hit past second Indian goalkeeper Bichu Devi Kharibam to hand Netherlands 2-1 lead.
⛄ Van der Elst then scored from a field effort to extend Netherlands' lead.
🌠 Udita reduced the deficit, converting another penalty corner in the 42nd minute.
🔴 The Indians had their chances, earning two back-to-back penalty corners in the 47th minute but wasted both.
💫 Albers sealed the match for Netherlands, scoring another fine field goal in the 47th minute, her second of the day.
ꦛ India will again play Netherlands in return-leg match at the Kalinga Stadium on Tuesday.
