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India squandered a 2-1 lead to suffer a 4-2 defeat against England in the FIH Hockey World Cup at Wagener Stadium in Amsterdam on Monday.
With the victory, England moved to the top of the group standings with six points from two matches. India remained second with three points from two games.
India fielded Jugraj Singh for much of the match to strengthen its defense. Jugraj, who sat out the opening game against Wales, had received approval for his new pair of sticks before Monday’s contest.
Earlier, Pakistan and Wales played to a 3-3 draw, leaving them third and fourth, respectively, with one point each.
India’s final group match against Pakistan on Wednesday now assumes greater significance. Pakistan must win to remain in contention for a quarterfinal berth, while India enters the contest with an advantage on goal difference.
The defeat was a disappointment for India, which stayed competitive against England and repeatedly tested its defense with well-planned attacks.
India included Jugraj in the starting lineup, while Dilpreet Singh, Jarmanpreet Singh and Shilanand Lakra began on the bench under overcast conditions. Both teams entered the match after winning their opening games, with victory offering a significant boost in the race for the knockout stage.
Jarmanpreet and Lakra were introduced early as Mandeep Singh and Jugraj were substituted. Dilpreet also entered and quickly helped create an opportunity for Jarmanpreet, whose eighth-minute shot narrowly missed the target. India used frequent substitutions throughout the opening quarter.
The match featured several physical challenges, prompting the umpires to issue cards. Sumit received a green card in the 10th minute.
England sought a penalty corner after Phil Roper’s rising shot struck Jugraj on the knee. A video referral upheld the appeal, but India successfully defended the resulting penalty corner.
England opened the scoring in the 14th minute. Stuart Rushmere controlled an aerial pass and found an unmarked Nicholas Bandurak, who beat Indian goalkeeper Suraj Karketta with a composed flick.
India responded after earning its first penalty corner in the 17th minute. England challenged the decision through a video referral, but the appeal was unsuccessful. Harmanpreet Singh converted the opportunity to level the score at 1-1.
India later missed an opportunity to take the lead when Lakra inadvertently intervened in the path of a goal-bound shot. The team earned another penalty corner in the 20th minute, but Harmanpreet’s attempt was stopped by the goalkeeper. India could not convert from the rebound.
Dilpreet put India ahead in the 25th minute, scoring after a free hit and a pass from Abhishek.
England earned another penalty corner in the 30th minute but failed to stop the injection cleanly. India entered halftime with a 2-1 lead.
England received another penalty corner in the 35th minute, but once again failed to control the injection.
The English side equalized in the 40th minute after using long cross-field passes to stretch India’s defense. Rushmere applied the decisive touch to a ball sent into the circle, making it 2-2.
Henry Croft then put England ahead in the 43rd minute, finishing a cross from the right flank with a well-placed shot. England ended the third quarter with a 3-2 advantage.
India earned a penalty corner in the 47th minute, but Harmanpreet’s drag flick was saved and deflected out.
India later appealed for another penalty corner after Mandeep claimed he had been pushed from behind while attempting a shot inside the circle. The video umpire rejected the appeal, costing India its referral.
England was awarded a penalty corner in the 54th minute after India was penalized while contesting an aerial ball. England then used a video referral following a goalmouth scramble and earned another penalty corner. India blocked the initial attempt and cleared the subsequent opportunity.
England received another penalty corner in the 55th minute, and Bandurak converted it to seal the 4-2 victory.
