India go Dutch at the goal feast.

(From Indian Express)

It was the stuff that miracles are made off. The Indian youth brigade served notice to the world's top hockey powers when they held Olympic champions the Netherlands 3-3 in a sensational match in the Champions Trophy here today. The Indians had the match in their grip till the last 60 seconds before the Dutch managed to equalise. The Indians stuck to their attacking brand of hockey and despite trailing twice, they fought back well to on both the occasions. In fact, within 10 minutes of finding equaliser (2-2) from a superb penalty corner variation and converted by ace striker Dhanraj Pillay, the Indians shot into the lead with just 120 seconds on the clock. With only two experienced players in the side - Pillay and captain and main defender Dilip Tirkey - the 3-3 result speaks volumes of a dramatic recovery after India's disastrous showing in the World Cup earlier this year. In fact, the youth side also broke a jinx of Indian hockey team, which had a history of poor starts. Olympian Jagbir Singh, was full of praise for the young team. He said: ''It was a very good start for the team. We have always struggled in the opening match and there was a big change in the attitude of the boys.'' And Horst Wein, former German coach and FIH coach couldn't agree with him more: ''There was a lot of positive features in the way this young team performed today. The artistic hockey is still alive in the Indian team.'' Even Dutch coach Joost Bellaart complimented the young Indian side for its prudence and matured display in the match. It put pressure on the Dutch defence which left space in the middle for the Indian forwards, Deepak Thakur, the highest scorer of the Junior World Cup and ...