Hockey WC: Netherlands hammer India 6-1

Dutch penalty corner specialist Taeke Takema slammed five goals, including the first hat-trick of the tournament, as a bunch of hapless Indians was inflicted a humiliating 1-6 defeat by World No 2, the Netherlands, to finish their league engagements without a win at the men's hockey World Cup in Monchengladbach, Germany on Tuesday night.

The Indians, who had set out their journey for the World Cup eyeing a semifinal berth after 31 years, were no match to the Dutch firepower both in defence as well as offence at the Warsteiner Hockey Park.

The Asian champions were compelled for an abject surrender by their opponents and the game went out of their hands as they conceded a 1-4 lead in the first half itself.

Takema was the wreacker-in-chief as he banged five goals (13th, 15th, 25th, 29th and 65th) while Roderick Weusthof (58th) scored the other one for the Netherlands.

The lone goal for India came off skipper Dilip Tirkey's penalty corner conversion (14th).

The Dutch, winners of three titles this year, finished their league engagements with 10 points, the same as Germany and Korea.

India ended up at the bottom of pool B with one point from their 1-1 draw with South Africa and will now be involved in classification matches to decide 9-12 positions.

Despite the clear-cut victory tonight, the Dutch will have to await the result of the Korea-Germany game on Wednesday when the league phase concludes. Korea and Germany only require a draw to advance to the semi-finals.

India, playing for their pride if nothing else, promised much in the first 10 minutes when they applied pressure on the Dutch defence. However, the Dutch cleverly manufactured a penalty corner in the 13th minute that led to a hotly disputed penalty stroke and Takema converted to put his team in front.

The Indians continued to attack and were awarded a penalty corner that Dilip Tirkey converted with a direct hit in the next minute. Thereafter, the Dutch had more of the ball and forced five penalty corners, three of which Taekema converted in the 15th, 25th and 29th minutes, and the Indian challenge was as good as over.

In the second-half, the Indians had a few good moments when their persistent attacks bore two penalty corners, but neither was converted.

Kanwalpreet Singh, who had come in for Ramachandra Raghunath, then received his second yellow card of the tournament and yet again, the Indians were reduced to 10 men in the 55th minute. At this point, the Dutch, eager to boost their goals tally, stepped up the pace and Weushtof came good with a drag flick to make it 5-1, 10 minutes from close.

Worse was to follow for India. Even as Kanwalpreet was called in, Viren Rasquinha was booked with a yellow card and left the field while the Dutch were awarded their ninth penalty corner that Taekema converted (6-1) with five minutes on the clock.