India contained the world no. 3 Belgium 4-4 after the end of regulation time. However, India suffered a heartbreaking loss to Belgium in shootout in the final of the Four-Nations Invitational Tournament’s second leg in Hamilton,New Zealand.
FT. India sustain a tough loss by @BELRedLions in a hard-fought game in the Final of the second leg of the Four Nations Invitational Tournament in NZ, which was decided by a Penalty Shoot-out.#IndiaKaGame #INDvBEL #NZ4Nations pic.twitter.com/oox2gW7ebR
— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) January 28, 2018
Ramandeep Singh (29′, 53′), Nilakanta Sharma (42′) and Mandeep Singh (49′) were the goal scorers for India during the regulation time.
Tanguy Cosyns (41′), Cedric Charlier (43′), Amaury Keusters (51′) and Felix Denayer (56′) scored during regulation time for the Belgians.
It was a fest of penalty shootout throughout the day as Japan beat hosts New Zealand 4-1 in the shootout earlier in the day. The Asian team contained Kiwis to 1-1 at the end of regulation time.
Earlier in the second leg of the tournament, India beat Belgium in a goal fest by 5-4. The final today was not at all different as both the teams scored four goals each. The Belgians eventually winning in the penalty shootout.
Manpreet Singh led side will return home with two silver medals. Indian team were earlier defeated by Belgium team in the finals of first leg at Tauranga 2-1.
