TOKYO: For 10 minutes, the dream was on. For those 600 dreamy seconds, it looked like India were on their way to a first Olympic final since 1980.
With the sun beating down Oi Hockey Stadium’s North Pitch, the Men In Blue allowed fans to get lost in the moment.
Even battle-hardened stone-dead followers of Indian hockey the ones who know that a one-goal lead in hockey is nothing momentarily lost control of their senses.
That was also when India momentarily lost control of the area of the pitch that was always likely to decide the outcome of the match: India’s defence vs Belgian forwards.
The one thing international coaches readily accept about Belgium is their set-piece prowess.
They are a great defensive machine inside their own third but they are so cute in the opposition third, their attackers almost always win corners when given the chance to drive the ball inside the box.
By the time Alexander Hendrickx equalised four minutes into the second quarter, the flicker, one of the best in the world at this particular skillset, looked almost pissed even as he celebrated with teammates.
“How did I manage to miss the previous three ones?”
Those previous three short corners, all in the opening minutes of the second stanza, came just after a period of play when the two teams elevated the sport to art.
With International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach in attendance, they played out one of the best quarters in recent times. It was bum-clenching and it began in the very first minute.
Five Belgium passes took them from back to front before a fierce drive from inside the right channel caught an Indian boot inside the ‘D’.
Hendrickx was outside but Loick Luypaert was there and his flicked effort found the corner.
One thing coach Graham Reid has drilled into his side is embrace adversity, react positively after going behind. True to form, they levelled before going ahead in the space of seven minutes.
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An in-form Harmanpreet Singh made no mistake from the set-piece to bring India level. Two minutes later, a similar drive into the D from the right found the stick of Mandeep Singh.
He turned, swivelled before unleashing a reverse hit. 2-1 and the players’ embrace told its own story. But the first quarter was more than just the scoreline.
The pace, in searing temperatures, could have as well been an ad for ‘The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift’, the 2006 sequel to ‘2 fast 2 Furious’.
Because Belgium resolutely defend their ‘D’ — after the 2018 World Cup final, the Netherlands even accused them of ‘parking the bus’ tactics to win the match — they usually don’t concede corners.
In fact, coming into the semifinal, they had only given away 13, a tournament low.
So when India got their penalty corner of a manic first 15 minutes, it seemed like a great opportunity to stretch that lead.
However, Rupinder Pal Singh’s effort was blocked by custodian Vincent Vanasch.
Then, Hendrickx, who finished with a hat-trick, took centrestage.
When you give away 14 corners to a team like Belgium — not a surprise given the Indian defence had given away 34 corners coming into the semifinal — you are signing your own death sentence. Hendrickx duly converted two of those, including one to take the lead in the 49th minute.
What hampered India was the fact that captain Manpreet Singh had just picked up a green card and was of the park.
That was the time when the wheels came off. Belgium earned seven penalty corners and one penalty stroke, also converted by Hendrickx, in seven- eight surreal fourth quarter minutes.
The Indian onrushers, especially Amit Rohidas, took blow after punishing blow but they just couldn’t get out of their own box. They ended up paying the ultimate penalty.
They will now have to recover from the disappointment to fight for bronze against Germany.
Finishing third may not be gold but it would still be a nice way to finish from what has been a very positive campaign.
FIRST QUARTER
2-1 Both sides start very fast. After trailing, India seize initiative by scoring two very quick goals. At the break, Reid tells his players to keep it simple.
SECOND
2-2 Red Lions equalise and steadily begin to get a grip on the match. India, for theirpart, miss a crucial corner in the 29th minute.
THIRD
2-2 The pace has considerably slowed down because of the heat. India, who have thrived on field goals
all tournament, struggle to manufacture proper circle penetrations.
FOURTH
2-5 The wheels come off. Belgium have one penalty corner and they keep hammering the door down before they stretch advantage to 4-2. India remove PR Sreejesh and the result is academic.