India suffer second defeat on Europe tour

new delhi — The Indian men’s hockey team squandered the advantage of a goal to lose 1-3 to hosts Belgium in Boom and slumped to their second consecutive defeat in their ongoing tour of Europe.

The Red Devils dished out a spirited performance late on Thursday night and came from a goal down to beat India and register their second win in the series in as many days.

India had earlier lost by a solitary goal to Belgium in their opening game of the tour on Wednesday.

The Indians, who have fielded an experimental team here with as many as six players making their debut in the senior national side, started on an aggressive note and surged ahead in the very fourth minute when Armaan Qureshi scored a brilliant field goal.

But India’s joy was short-lived as Belgium drew parity five minutes later. As is their won’t India seemed to have gone into a shell and Belgium hit back with the equaliser through Amaury Keusters in the ninth minute.

Belgium got their act together and were the better side on display in the second quarter and took the lead in the 21st minute when Loick Luypaert scored with a superb drag-flick.

Just at the stroke of halftime, Belgium went into top gear and extended their lead through Victor Wegnez’s field strike.

It was a neck-and-neck fight between the two teams in the third and fourth quarters as India came close to scoring.

India pressed hard in search of goals but the Belgian defence stood like a rock to thwart any danger to their citadel.

The Indians will now head to Waalwijk, Netherlands to face the home team on August 13 and 14 before winding up their five-match Europe tour with a game against Austria in Amstelveen on August 16. — PTI