Netherlands thump India 3-1 to top pool B in HWL SemiFinal

India were outclassed 1-3 by Netherlands and finished second in Pool B of the Hockey World League (HWL) SemiFinal here on Tuesday.

World No.6 India, coming into the match with a hat-trick of wins, played a higher-ranked opponent for the first time in the pool stage and came under tremendous pressure from the start.

The Netherlands pressed from the start and their slick one-touch passing pinned down India.

World No.4 Netherlands dominated the first half to take a 3-1 lead against India.

Thierry Brinkman put the Europeans ahead in the second minute with a field goal, before Sander Baart doubled the lead with a penalty corner striker.

Mirco Pruijser tripled the Dutch's lead in the 24th minute.

Akashdeep Singh reduced the goal difference to two as he swept past the Dutch goalkeeper two minutes from the end of the second quarter, to give a glimmer of hope for the Indians.

The third quarter looked slightly better, with the men in blue disallowing the Dutch to add to their lead.

The fourth quarter was no different from the third with India missing a chance from a penalty corner in the final minutes of the play.

With the loss, Roelant Oltmans-coached India finished second in the pool with nine points -- three behind the Dutch, who won all of their pool matches.

Canada (four points) and Pakistan (three points) also advanced to the quarter-finals, while Scotland were eliminated.

--IANS

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