India plays 2-2 draw with the Netherlands in 5-nation Dublin Tournament

Indian Junior women  came from behind to hold a gritty Netherlands to a 2-2 draw in the Uniphar U235 Nations Tournament in Dublin, Ireland, on Monday.

Annu (19’) and Beauty Dungdung (37’)  were scorers for India while Brouwer Amber (13’) and Van Der Broek Belen (17’) were  the goal getters for the Dutch team.

The Netherlands had India under pressure early on by earning three back-to-back penalty corners in the first five minutes. However, the Indian defence stood firm and refused to yield to the continuous onslaughts. The Netherlands upped its ante as the game progressed.

The Dutch efforts  were  ultimately  rewarded as they broke the deadlock in the 13th minute through Brouwer Amber. Thereafter, they did well to hold on to their lead as the first quarter came to a close.

The Netherlands started the second quarter on the front foot, and it paid off when Van Der Broek Belen scored in the 17th minute. After conceding two goals, India initiated  counter-attacks. Its efforts were rewarded with its first penalty corner in the 18th minute. The award failed to produce a goal. However, India’s offensive strategy paid off as Annu pulled one back in the 19th minute. The Dutch then intensified its attack, earning  two penalty corners  in a row but without changing the score line.

India gained  its second penalty corner  in the final minutes of the second quarter. India muffed the opportunity to restore parity.

Trailing by a goal, India looked to attack early on as the third quarter started. The Indian team was rewarded for its efforts as  vice-captain Beauty Dungdung scored the equalizer in the 37th minute. Following that, both teams increased their pressure in chase of the decisive goal, which never came as the game was tied at 2-2 at the end of the third quarter.

The Netherlands players felt a sense of urgency as the fourth quarter began, having squandered a two-goal advantage. This was also evident in its game, as it earned a penalty corner  in the 47th minute but failed to convert it. India got  a solid opportunity to take the lead, through a penalty corner, but it did not change the score line.

In the final minutes of the game, the Netherlands won two consecutive penalty corners but failed in converting them as the game ended in a draw.

The Indian team will now take on Ukraine in its third match of the tournament on Wednesday, June 22.

Prabhjot Singh