(Catch the Live Updates of India and Belgium here)
This is how the points table looks now after India’s second match against Belgium.
India captain Manpreet Singh says India created good opportunities today but unfortunately did not convert.
India came up with a much better performance on Sunday with more circle penetrations and more shot on goals than the world champions. But the ball refused to go in the goal in the second half and that cost them the match.
FULL TIME, India 2 Belgium 3:
Harmanpreet’s blunder in the second quarter proved to be the difference between the two teams. Both teams created at least half a dozen chances in the second half but none could find the back of the net.
More than the loss, Indian coach Graham Reid would be unhappy with the way the players lost the ball in the second and third quarter.
60th minute, India 2 Belgium 3: Krishan Pathak comes up with another good save and is now withdrawn with 50 minutes left to play.
59th minute, India 2 Belgium 3: Vivek Prasad makes a good run from the left but his cross is too weak to beat the defender.
56th minute, India 2 Belgium 3: India hasn’t been able to make the most of the one man advantage they had for the last four minutes. It would be interesting to see whether the Indians have the firepower to find the equaliser in the last four minutes.
54th minute, India 2 Belgium 3: Belgium has managed to create a period of sustained pressure. But even they are not being able to get the final pass and there is no chance on the scoreboard.
50th minute, India 2 Belgium 3: India have been the more creative side in the fourth quarter. They have been making good runs from the right flank but are found wanting inside the box. Gurjant got the best chance of the quarter but Vanasch saves the low shot.
End of 3rd quarter, India 2 Belgium 3:
There were no goals scored in this quarter. But both teams created plenty of chances. While India were profligate inside the striking circle, Sreejesh came up with at least four quality saves to ensure that Belgium did not increase their lead.
45th minute, India 2 Belgium 3: They mess up the stop and Belgium come up with a quick counter. But once again Sreejesh comes to the team’s rescue as he comes out of the line to intercept the run of Kina, this time from the right.
45th minute, India 2 Belgium 3: India have managed to come up with a quick counter and have earned a penalty corner. Can they find the equaliser?
44th minute, India 2 Belgium 3: Sreejesh once again comes to the rescue as he comes out of his line to block Antoine Kina’s shot.
42nd minute, India 2 Belgium 3: Sreejesh makes two crucial saves and the Indian outfield players mop up well on the rebound. But India is now beginning to feel the heat from the Belgium strikers.
38th minute, India 2 Belgium 3: India has been guilty of losing the ball rather easily inside their own half. Luckily for them, they haven’t conceded another goal due to these mistakes after that Harmanpreet howler.
33rd minute, India 2 Belgium 3: India has been on the offensive since the start of the third quarter and even get a penalty corner. But they are not managing to find the net.
31st minute, India 2 Belgium 3: India create two chances immediately after the restart but can’t find the final touch to score.
31st minute, India 2 Belgium 3: India create two chances immediately after the restart but can’t find the final touch to score.
HALF TIME, India 2 Belgium 3
Unlike yesterday, India has better chances today but Belgium have the goals
HALF TIME, India 2 Belgium 3:
Both the teams stepped on the gas in the second quarter and created enough chances to score. Plennevaux scored within two minutes of the start of second quarter but India equalised within 30 seconds. It looked like the score would remain the same before a howler from Harmanpreet gifted the visitors their third goal.
It would be interesting to see how the Indian team now regroups in the break, put behind that mistake and look for an equaliser.
28th minute India 2 Belgium 3: Mandeep Singh got a brilliant chance to equalise after he gets a long ball inside the striking circle. Vanasch makes him big in front of the goal and Mandeep fails to get a shot.
GOAL! 26th minute India 2 Belgium 3: It was an absolute shocker from Harmanpreet as he tries to cross the ball across the Indian goal mouth. Van Doren intercepts the ball and crosses its across and Maxime Plennevaux makes no mistake in slotting it home.
20th minute India 2 Belgium 2: Mandeep almost gave India the lead with a darting run from the right. But he could not find Gurjant Singh and the chance goes waste.
GOAL! 17th minute India 2 Belgium 2: This is getting franatic now. Belgium’s lead survived for just 30 seconds. India quickly won their first penalty corner and though the Belgium runner stopped Harmanpreet’s flick, Amit Rohidas made no mistake on the rebound.
GOAL! 17th minute India 1 Belgium 2: Nicolas de Kerpel deflects Simon Gougnard’s pass to put Belgium ahead again.
GOAL, India 1 Belgium 1: And India draws level with just few seconds left for the first quarter to end as a diving Vivek Prasad deflects the ball from under Vanasch’s legs.
10th min, India 0 Belgium 1: Good thinking from Mandeep to go for goal. But the two Indians inside the striking circle cannot get a stick on the ball.
7th min, India 0 Belgium 1: India have managed to keep their shape and are not allowing Belgium to have the ball for long. But even the hosts haven’t been able to make any penetrating move to trouble the opposition goal keeper.
5th min, India 0 Belgium 1: India build an attack from the right but Ramandeep cannot get a shot at goal.
GOAL! 3rd min, India 0 Belgium 1: Alexander Hendrickx scores with a low drag flick.
2nd min, India 0 Belgium 0: India have started on the offensive in this match against Belgium. But the visitors got the first shot at goal. But Sreejesh saves a shot from Thomas Briel and then a rebound from Gauthier Boccard. But Belgium get a penalty corner.
5:00 pm: India withstood a barrage of attacks from the world champions but both goalkeepers Krishan Prasad and PR Sreejesh stood tall to help India win the match 2-1. Can they repeat their heroics once again?
4:53 pm: Hello and welcome to the live updates of the FIH Pro League match between India and Belgium at Bhubaneshwar. Manpreet Singh’s side are on a roll after a thrilling win against the reigning world champions on Saturday. Previously, they had won twice against Netherlands.
Under Graham Reid, India look a transformed unit. World No 5 India thrashed Netherlands 5-2 in the opening match of the two-leg tie before beating the Dutchmen 3-1 in a shootout after both the teams were locked 3-3 at the end of regulation time in the second match last month.
Containing the deadly attack of Belgium will yet again be India’s big challenge going forward. It was the hosts who showed more bite yesterday. Can India pocket yet another double header? It’s not out of their reach, given the spirit and verve they showed in the second half yesterday.