Indo-Asian News Service
Raipur, Dec 6: India prevailed 3-2 (5-5) in a penalty shoot-out against the Netherlands to clinch the bronze medal in the Hockey World League (HWL) Final at the Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel International Stadium here Sunday.
Mirco Pruijser (ninth minute), Nicolas van der Schoot (25th) made it 2-0 for the visitors but Ramandeep Singh (39th) and Rupinderpal Singh (47th) brought India on level terms. Ramandeep scored again in the 51st minute to make it 3-2 before Mink van der Weerden scored the third goal for the Dutch.
Rupinder (55th) scored from a penalty stroke and later Akashdeep Singh doubled India’s lead after which van der Weerden scored twice to force the issue to the penalty shoot-out.
In the shoot-out, Billy Bakker, Seve van Ass scored while Jeroen Hertzberger, Pruijser and Valentine Verga failed. For India, Birendra Lakra, Sardar Singh and Rupinder were successful, while Danish Mujtaba and Muhammad Amir Khan failed.
Oz lift title
World Champions Australia stamped their authority and defeated Belgium 2-1 to clinch the title of the second edition of Hockey World League (HWL) Final. Australia, took control of the match from the word go to dominate the World No. 7 Belgians. After a barren first quarter, Australia surged ahead in the 16th minute through a field goal from Jeremy Hayward. Seven minutes into the second half, Australia doubled their lead through Matthew Dawson who converted a penalty corner. Belgium pressed hard in the final quarter and managed to secure a penalty corner in the final minutefrom which Simon Gougnard scored a consolation goal.
