India’s extraordinary goal glut in in the third quarter of the game – where they netted all four goals – helped Roelant Oltmans’s side register a handsome 4-1 win in their Hockey World League Semi-Final against minnows Scotland in London on Thursday.

At the end of the first half, it looked like the Indian attackers would endure yet another evening of firing blanks in front of goal, with little to show despite having a lion’s share of the possession. India were trailing 0-1 going into the break.

It is best left to the imagination what coach Oltamans had said during the break to inspire his side’s turnaround. Ramandeep Singh scored two goals in the space of three minutes to put his side into the lead. Akashdeep Singh then turned in an exquisite ball from Manpreet Singh from the left.

Harmanpreet Singh put an end to India’s recent woes with penalty corners with a thumping flick into the top left corner. What had changed for India in the second half? “We had a chat after the first half to give out best,” said Manpreet Singh.

The strategy for India to make a mark in the contest was that simple. Even while trailing in the first half, they had created enough opportunities to take the lead, only to be denied by some excellent goalkeeping by Scotland’s Tommy Alexander. Akashdeep missed a simple opportunity to get the equaliser for his side from close range but missed the target by a couple of inches.

Dangerously for the Indians, the proceedings had a feeling of déjà vu for the Indians, just like their group stage defeat against Malaysia in the Sultan Azlan Shah trophy last month, where the pressure to score goals got the better of them, despite holding the ball for long spells. Here, Scotland went ahead only a minute into the game through Chris Grassick, who made his opponents pay for some slack marking, leaving him free in front of goal.

India’s attacks lacked verve throughout the first half despite making circle entries with consummate ease. Ramandeep’s opener came from a ferocious reverse hit from a tight angle on the left. SV Sunil impressed with his powerful run and pass for the second, setting up a simple tap-in in the ‘D’ for Ramandeep. India sat back on their lead in the final quarter of the game, understandably so, after a breakneck third quarter which highlighted the danger their attackers pose when collectively on song.

Brief score:

  • India 4 (Ramandeep Singh x 2, Akashdeep Singh, Harmanpreet Singh) beat Scotland 1 (Chris Grassick)