India's dream of a first Hockey World Cup medal in over four decades will have to wait longer after going down to Netherlands in the quarter-finals of the 2018.
A packed Kalinga Stadium at Bhubaneswar on Thursday, 13 December, was witness to the host nation's hopes being crushed as the Dutch, three-time world champions, came from behind to win 2-1 and set up a semi-final against holders and world number one Australia.
Akashdeep Singh's had taken a 12th-minute lead second goal of the tournament, only for Netherlands to equalize three seconds before the end of the first quarter with Thierry Brinkman executing a deft deflection.
Mink van der Weerden then converted a final-quarter penalty corner, with just over 10 minutes on the clock, to break Indian hearts.
India have now failed to reach the semi-final stage since winning their only World Cup title in 1975.
India Pay For Defensive Lapses
There was no doubting India's fight. But in the final calculations, two defensive errors cost India a semi-final berth - the latter of the two in particular.
Amit Rohidas' ill-timed attempt to block a penalty corner at the start of the final quarter resulted in a Dutch retake with India allowed one lesser man in the defensive wall. It proved fatal, as van der Weerden was able to pierce the gap and find the back of the net past goalkeeper PR Sreejesh.
India remain winless against Netherlands at the World Cup after six meetings with the Dutch in the competition's 47-year history. Victory in Bhubaneswar was Netherlands' fifth outright win in WC matches against India, with the sixth a penalty shootout win to clinch the 1973 final at Amstelveen.
Netherlands will now bid to prevent champions Australia from entering a fifth successive final, while world number three Belgium take on England - surprise conquerors of Olympic champions Argentina. Both semi-finals are scheduled for Saturday, 15 December, with the summit clash to follow a day later.
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