India 1-4 Belgium Highlights, FIH Pro League: Men in Blue suffer defeat, Abhishek scores consolation goal

A commanding performance from Belgium in front of home fans. After a shocking 1-2 loss to Ireland yesterday, this is the perfect way to bounce back. The Olympic champion was quicker and more clinical. A brace for Alexander Hendrickx, one goal apiece for Denayer and Charlier. For India, Abhishek got a consolation goal in the final quarter. India stays at third with 17 points in 10 games while Belgiums moves up to 7th with 6 points in 6 games.

The two teams will be up against each other again on Saturday.

Aerial pass to Charlier who makes it inside the shooting circle and since the Indian players were not 5m away when the Belgian was receiving it, it is a Penalty stroke for Belgium. India challenges the call and loses the referral. Hendrickx steps up and hits the bottom-left corner while Sreejesh anticipates a shot towards the opposite corner.

Now, there is a spring in the steps of Indian players. Still five minutes to go and scoring two more goals is not an impossible task. However, a swift charge from the Belgians and Sreejesh makes a sharp save after a deflection from Charlier.

Jugraj with a long pass from the right flank, finds Abhishek on the periphery of the shooting circle. Lovely dribbling from Abhishek before a superb reverse hit to beat Van Doren, who has stood like a wall today.

Harmanpreet finds Boccard’s foot but it is outside the shooting circle and hence, not a PC.

Belgium has outplayed India tonight. That third goal was simply breathtaking!

Cedric Charlier on the score sheet. Amazing long cross-field pass from Denayer to Charlier with Jugraj completely out of position, Charlier takes the ball inside the shooting circle from the right and finds the bottom-right corner of Sreejesh’s goal.

Nicolas de Kerpel with some lovely 3D skills takes the ball inside the shooting circle from the right but Indian defence steals possession.

Final quarter underway. Can India find a way back into this contest? 

Belgian almost makes it 3-0 in the dying seconds of the third as Jarmanpreet comes to Sreejesh’s rescue after the Indian goalie loses the ball.

Aerial pass from Abhishek, who was placed on the edge of the shooting circle, but he fails to make contact with the ball. 

Chance for India as Manpreet steals the ball from Boccard on the right flank and passes it to Abhishek inside the shooting circle but Abhishek slips and fails to receive the ball.

Willems back on the pitch and in action right away. India was on a swift counter-attack with Lalit carrying the ball down the left flank before a body block from Willems. 

A shot on target out of nowhere from India with Lalit getting the final touch but Van Doren stays alert and saves it.

First booking of the match. Tommy Willems receives a green card and that means two minutes in the sin bin for the Belgian No. 11

Belgium well and truly in the driver’s seat now. Olympic champion for a reason!

Blistering counter-attack from Cosyns, Denayer and De Kerpel to eventually win a Penalty Corner. Injection from Dohmen, Hendrickx with the drag flick and the ball goes through Sreejesh’s feet!

High press from India in this half. Belgian defence under a bit of pressure.

Mandeep with the push back. India plays from left to right and Belgium from right to left.

Belgium has a slender 1-0 lead at the halfway stage. Craig Fulton’s side, after being put on the backfoot, showed its skills in the second quarter and got two PCs. Belgian defence stood firm and denied Harmanpreet and Co. Skipper Felix Denayer broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute with a simple finish off a rebound as Sreejesh was completely out of position after saving a shot. 

Final two minutes of the first half. India had its chances. Belgium continued to be aggressive and finally, it was the host who got the opening goal. Can India find the equaliser before half-time?

Excellent steal from Harmanpreet in the midfield but Tommy Willems makes a crucial interception to stop the Indian counter-attack.

Swift counter-attack down the right flank from India but Gurjant loses possession near the baseline.

Captain Felix Denayer puts the ball into the goal post after Sreejesh blocks the first shot from Florent van Aubel. Belgium takes the lead.

Foul on Abhishek inside the shooting circle and another PC for India. Hardik injects, Harmanpreet with the drag flick, Dohmen blocks and it is deemed a dangerous ball. So, not another PC for India.

PENALTY CORNER FOR INDIA. Patience pays off for the Men in Blue. Abhishek with the injection, Harmanpreet with the drag flick but Van Doren saves it. Unbelievable bit of skill from the Belgian goalkeeper to make multiple saves and keep the Indians a bay.

After a tough first quarter, India will look to find some rhythm and attack the Belgian goal more.

First quarter ends. Lots of aggression from Belgium but India manages to stay strong and avoids conceding any goal. 

Lovely through-ball from the Belgians finds Cosyns in a one-on-one situation against Sreejesh. The Indian goalkeeper cuts the angle down and that does the job. 

Pass from Amit Rohidas finds a Belgian player. Counter-attack from the hosts but eventually, the shot from Charlier is wide.

Manpreet receives a pass in the midfield and looks to find a way through the Belgian bodies into the shooting circle. However, the whistle is blown, signalling the Indian had committed a foul.

Belgium putting more and more pressure on the Indian defence. Seems like it is only a matter of time before the Olympic champion scores one.

OFF THE POST!!!! So close for Belgium. A beautifully constructed move through the right flank. Tanguy Cosyns went for the kill but his shot hit Sreejesh’s left post and the rebound did not find a Belgian stick.

Sukhjeet receives an aerial pass inside the shooting circle and takes the ball towards the near post but the Belgian defence ensures there is no harm done.

Onana receives the ball just inside the circle and goes for the reverse stick but Amit Rohidas blocks his effort brilliantly.

Belgium starts patiently and looks for the circle penetration while denying India any sort of possession whatsoever.

Belgium with the push back. The host to play from left to right in the first half while India plays from right to left.

The two teams walk out on the pitch. Time for the national anthems.

Belgium had a shocking 1-2 loss against Ireland yesterday. The host team will look to bounce back from that defeat today.

Indian women’s hockey team suffered second straight defeat in the European leg of the FIH Pro League today. After losing the opener 0-5 against Argentina, it was a 0-2 defeat against Belgium today.

India: Jarmanpreet, Abhishek, Manpreet, Hardik, Mandeep, Harmanpreet (c), Sreejesh (GK), Sumit, Shamsher, Amit, Sukhjeet

Belgium: Van Doren (GK), Dohmen, Van Aubel, Boccard, De Kerpel, Hendrickx, Denayer (c), Luypaert, Wegnez, Van Oost, Onana

India is third out of nine teams at the moment with 17 points in nine games. On the other hand, Belgium has played just five matches and with three points, is eighth.

This is how the points system works in FIH Pro League:-

3 - Points for an outright win

1 - One point for a draw 

1+1 - Bonus point for winning a drawn match in the shootout

0 - No points for the losing side

India and Belgium last faced each other on June 2, 2023, in the previous edition of the FIH Pro League. India won that match 5-1 in London where skipper Harmanpreet Singh scored a brace.

Matches played: 41

India: 19

Belgium: 18

Draws: 4

Indian men’s hockey team faces Belgium in its second match of the European leg of the ongoing FIH Pro League season in Antwerp.

In its first match on Wednesday, India was held to a 2-2 draw in a regulation by Argentina before the Men in Blue earned a bonus point with a 5-4 win in the shootout.

Every Pro League match is very crucial for captain Harmanpreet Singh and coach Craig Fulton as the preparation for Paris Olympics continues.

The FIH Pro League men’s fixture between India and Belgium begins at 12:30AM IST (May 24). The match will be telecast on Sports18 while live streaming will be available on Jio Cinema.