RAIPUR: The Netherlands sealed the top spot in Pool B courtesy of a comfortable 3-1 win over host nation India in front of another packed stadium on Day 4 of the Hero Hockey World League Final 2015 in Raipur.
A first place finish in the Pool means that the European champions will face the team that finishes fourth in Pool A in the quarter final phase.
India have finished fourth in Pool B, and will now face a tough quarter-final meeting against the winner of Pool A.
The home favourites started the match brightly, but the Dutch were in control for long periods of the game before eventually taking the lead early in the third quarter thanks to a low penalty corner drag-flick from Mink van der Weerden.
Mirco Pruijser added a second with a first time effort from close range before India’s Chinglesana pulled a goal back with a penalty corner rebound at the start of the fourth quarter. The result was put beyond all doubt when Roel Bovendeert fired home in the 54th minute, rattling in a shot off the underside of the crossbar.
It was a milestone day for two key players, Dutch captain Robert van der Horst and India’s V.R. Raghunath and playing their 250th and 200th international matches respectively.
“It is a privilege for me to have been part of the team for so long, and it is an even bigger privilege to do it as the national captain”, said midfield ace Van der Horst.
“To play my 250th cap against India in India, it doesn’t get much better than that. The crowd made it a little bit tough today, but we were so dominant during the game. We felt really strong today.”