Hockey: Deepika scores again but India's relegation woes deepen after 5-1 thrashing by Belgium

Indian Express

4 hours ago

It is getting tougher for the Indian women's hockey team in their quest to avoid relegation from the FIH Pro League as they were blown away by a second-half set-piece masterclass by Belgium on Saturday in Antwerp. In a battle of the last two teams who finished fourth at the Olympic Games, the current gulf in class became evident as the match went on as India, despite holding a 1-0 lead at half time, had no answers to the relentless pressure from Belgium after the restart, conceding a plethora of penalty corners.
The hosts won a total of 16 penalty corners and 1 penalty stroke, and all of their second half goals came from those set-piece situations. But it was Deepika (6') who had given India the lead with a drag flick of her own, continuing her fine form off penalty corners, in what is perhaps the biggest positive to emerge from the European leg of the Pro League for India so far. Belgium had the better chances in the first half anyway but were guilty of not converting. That would all change as Hélène Brasseur (37', 55'), Lucie Breyne (41'), Ambre Ballenghien (54'), and Charlotte Englebert (58') sealed victory for the hosts.
The result has seen India drop to the 8th spot on the table with 10 points from their 13 matches, above only England who also lost on the day against Spain to give coach Harendra Singh's team some breathing room. But with Germany thrashing Australia 4-0 and moving up the table, it is heading toward a clear two-way battle between India and England to avoid the wooden spoon.
India endured a nervy start as Belgium came out pressing with intent, earning a penalty corner within the opening minute. The early scare was averted, and Savita Punia soon followed up with a sharp save to keep the scoreboard untouched. An unforced error in India's half, as Vaishnavi Phalke completely mis-hit an aerial clearance, gifted Belgium possession again. But she made up for the error to tackle the forward in time and prevent a soft goal.
Sitting deep and absorbing waves of pressure, India waited patiently for their chance on the break. When it came, they made it count. Their first circle entry resulted in a penalty corner, and Deepika's shot took a deflection off a Belgian defender before finding the back of the net to put India ahead. But it all unravelled in the second half, especially in the third quarter, when India conceded 8 penalty corners.
Belgium entered the third quarter having made 10 circle entries to India's four, maintaining steady pressure on the defence. It took five penalty corners before Brasseur finally converted to bring Belgium level. Two more penalty corners followed, and despite a series of sharp saves from Savita, Breyne struck from close range during yet another set-piece to give Belgium a 2–1 lead.
India laboured to find a way back, probing through the flanks in search of an opening in the final quarter, but the Belgian defence remained largely untroubled in the final third. The final ten minutes, however, were completely dominated by the hosts. In the 54th minute, Ballenghien effectively sealed the contest with a well-taken goal to make it 3–1. Five minutes later, Brasseur converted Belgium's fourth penalty corner, stretching the lead further. Just before the end, Englebert added her name to the scoresheet, calmly slotting home a penalty stroke in the 58th minute to complete a comprehensive win for Belgium.