Amstelveen (Holland): India succumbed to pressure, conceding four goals in the last seven minutes, as they lost their high-voltage tournament opener 4-3 to defending champions Netherlands in the Champions Trophy hockey meet on August 16.

After taking a comfortable 3-0 lead till the 63rd minute, the complexion of the game changed dramatically in the dying minutes as the hosts turned the tables slamming in the four goals in quick succession to leave the Indians in a daze.

India's perennial problem of conceding goals in the final moments again proved to be their nemesis but this time around their cause was not helped either by a debatable decision which allowed Holland to restore parity.

With barely a few minutes left for the hooter, the controversial decision saw the game being held up for a few minutes as the incensed Indians flocked the umpire protesting the goal.

The visitors, who were leading 3-2 at that moment, argued that the ball had not crossed the goal line before Baljit Singh Saini pushed it away. But turning down their protest, the umpire consulted the technical director before sticking to his original decision to allow the goal.

The already demoralised Indians were hardly in the game when Netherlands struck again through Roland Brouwer, who slammed home the winner just before the hooter.

Indians had scored through Jugraj Singh (44) and Deepak Thakur (52, 62) while Rob Reckers (63), Taeke Taekema (64), Florence Everl (68) and Brouwer scored for the hosts.

PTI