This story is from January 20, 2020

FIH Pro League: Sensational Sreejesh wins it for India in penalty shootout

On Sunday, PR Sreejesh showed once again why he is considered to be one of the best goalkeepers in the world. After making some incredible saves in regulation time, he stood like a wall in the shootout as India earned their second successive victory against the Netherlands in the Hockey Pro League at Kalinga Stadium.
FIH Pro League: Sensational Sreejesh wins it for India in penalty shootout
Photo courtesy: Odisha Sports Twitter handle
BHUBANESWAR: On Sunday, PR Sreejesh showed once again why he is considered to be one of the best goalkeepers in the world. After making some incredible saves in regulation time, he stood like a wall in the shootout as India earned their second successive victory against the Netherlands in the Hockey Pro League at Kalinga Stadium.
After the match finished 3-3, Sreejesh made three saves in the shootout to help India win the encounter (3-1).
For India, Vivek Prasad, Gurjant Singh and Akashdeep Singh sounded the board while for the visitors, only Mirko Pruijser was able to put it past Sreejesh. India now have five points from two matches while the Netherlands have only one for earning a draw during regulation time.
Not only Sreejesh, no amount of praise would be enough for the Indian team. Unlike in the past when they have crumbled under pressure, India fought on till the end. Trailing 1-3 at the end of the second quarter, they never lost heart. In the third quarter, when Manpreet Singh got suspended for 10 minutes for a hit on Lars Balk's face, they held on with everything to keep the Dutch at bay.

Then in the fourth quarter, they came out all guns blazing and Mandeep scored within six minutes.
They kept pressing hard and won their third penalty corner of the match which Rupinder Pal Singh converted. The Dutch tried their best but could not beat Sreejesh as the match ended 3-3.
The Dutch will now travel to Spain while India will take on world champions Belgium in February.
Earlier, it was an electric first quarter where action shifted from one end to another in seconds. India played pressing hockey and could have easily taken a comfortable 2-0 lead. But
Lalit Updhyay, who won the man of the match award on Saturday, failed to convert two easy chances. Rupinder, who had scored twice on Saturday, failed to convert a PC.
After the break, India began well and had two chances back to back. To the dismay of fans, they failed to convert either of them.
After that, even though the Netherlands kept playing good hockey, it was India who won the moments.
End of Article
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA