India lose Punjab Gold Cup to Netherlands

India lose Punjab Gold Cup title clash 1-2 to Netherlands
Chandigarh, Feb 9 (PTI) India conceded a goal in the dying moments to lose the final of the Punjab Gold Cup hockey tournament 1-2 against European champions the Netherlands here today.Tournament top-scorer Jeroen Hertzberger converted a penalty corner in the 66th minute to break Indian hearts in the final, played under lights before a packed Sector 42 hockey stadium.
After a barren first half, it was India who took the lead in the 43rd minute when Korean umpire Kim Hong Lee awarded the hosts a penalty stroke after striker Shivender Singh was unfairly tackled inside the striking circle by Dutch forward Wouter Jolie.
Skipper Sandeep Singh, who had failed to score from the spot against the Dutch in the group league stage, made no mistake this time as his low hit beat Dutch goalkeeper Jaap Stockmann.
The visitors equalised within three minutes when Robbert Kemperman's deflection beat India goalkeeper Baljit Singh.
India tried hard to find the winner and also earned five penalty corners but to no avail as Hertzberger's sixth goal of the tournament left them high and dry. PTI