Belgium stays perfect as India suffers third loss on the trot

The Indian team finally showed glimpses of finding its rhythm and playing like a unit but it was few and far between to overcome Belgium’s early onslaught and the host went down 2-4 for its third straight defeat in the FIH Pro League here on Saturday.

Belgium, meanwhile, wrapped up the first half of its campaign with a fourth consecutive win. It rode on four penalty-corner goals within a span of six minutes and impeccable defending.

The Indians made it a lot tougher on themselves, oscillating between electric and erratic. The home team started positively and created a couple of half chances, getting the first shot in the seventh minute but Aditya Lalage’s goal was disallowed on referral for the ball not having travelled five metres outside the circle.

Belgium pressed hard on counters, using short passes to glide through the middle and easily finding gaps in the Indian midfield and legs inside the circle to earn repeated penalty corners.

Hugo Labouchere started the scoring in the 11th minute and Alexander Hendrickx got the fourth in the 17th.

Lalage pulled one back in the 24th off a goalmouth melee but the Indian defence was in tatters.

The second half saw a role reversal, desperate defending and some good goalkeeping keeping the Belgians at bay but the Indian forwards kept fluffing up their chances.

Abhishek continued to frustrate, getting into the right positions only to be off-target.

There were moments when, orchestrated by Hardik Singh, the Indians appeared to find their mojo, only to run out of it as suddenly.

The result: Belgium 4 (Hugo Labouchere 11-pc, Alexander Hendrickx 14-pc, 17-pc, Arthur de Sloover 15-pc) bt India 2 (Aditya Lalage 24, Harmanpreet Singh 37-pc).