But they responded by bouncing back to clinch a morale-boosting 1-0 win over South Korea, before thrashing China 5-1 to officially book their quarter-final spot.
Going by world rankings, Netherlands (4th) were rated as favourites against the sixth-placed Indians and the Dutchmen played the match on the expected lines, controlling the proceedings for major part of the match.
The results: India 7 (Harmanpreet Singh 13 & 33, Talwinder Singh 21 & 24, Akashdeep Singh 47 & 59 and Pardeep Mor 49) bt Pakistan 1 (Umar Bhutta 57).
In a tournament where Olympic champions Argentina, India's likely opponents next, have scored 11 of their 20 goals through the penalty corners, it's about time one of Indian hockey's traditional strengths comes to the fore.
India's usual keeper but now injured PR Sreejesh had dedicated the team's 2016 Champions Trophy title to the soldiers. Scotland dominated the final quarter but found Canada goalkeeper David Carter in brilliant form, denying numerous chances to see out the draw.
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In the 42nd minute, Pakistan went into the lead for the first time in the tournament.
In the second quarter, Mirco Pruijser scored their third goal, drawing Chitke out and beating the defence. India saw out the remaining six minutes to go into the midway break with a comfortable 3-0 lead. "India needs to do more to be called a world beater and it has to start with penalty corner conversion". Whereas only Ragunath could score a goal for India. "An amount of Rs.1.1crore was also approved by the Ministry for the squad consisting of 18 players and 7 support staff members". "So win penalty corners and exploit inexperience", Jimmy concluded.
As coach Roelant Oltmans conceded: "We did begin slow and allowed the goals".
India may well have suffered a 180-rout at the hands of Pakistan in the Champions Trophy cricket final but they came out on top at the other side of London - in field hockey. They have not been able to get enough possession in the last quarter. "It is a big success against Pakistan and we are very happy". There is drama aplenty promised to those who prefer to watch the hockey showdown, with India determined to continue their recent supremacy against this raw Pakistani outfit that has invoked pride as it faces the prospects of failing to achieve the 2018 World Cup qualification target. "Step by step we have been playing well".
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