Young hockey team now draws in India and wins shoot-outs
The hockey players of Orange have been able to prevent another defeat against India in the Pro League with a heavily rejuvenated team. This time it was 1-1 in Bhubaneswar. The Netherlands then won the shoot-out series 3-1, taking a bonus point. On Friday, the Orange squad lost 2-1 to India, which is led by Janneke Schopman.
India took the lead in the first minute: Rajwinder Kaur tapped the ball in after 33 seconds after getting the ball in front of her feet after a penalty corner. The equalizer of Orange was long in coming. Only in the fourth quarter, in the 53rd minute, did the Olympic champion equalize via Yibbi Jansen. The 22-year-old specialist, who had already scored three times against the US on Sunday, pushed hard from a penalty corner.
Jansen then used the first shoot-out, after which Kyra Fortuin and Marente Barentsen were also accurate. India missed three shoot-outs.
Euro Hockey League
The Netherlands entered India with many young and inexperienced players, because the many internationals skipped the trip because they will play in the Euro Hockey League next week with their clubs Amsterdam and Den Bosch. Interim national coach Jamilon Mülders was also not there in India, due to private circumstances. He was replaced by assistant coach Joost Bitterling and Daan Sabel, normally involved with the Dutch Juniors.
Due to the draw and the win from the shoot-outs, the Netherlands managed to prevent India from taking over the lead in the Pro League. The Orange squad has 19 points after eight games, India has 16.
The Netherlands will not return to action in the Pro League until the end of May. Argentina is then twice the opponent.