Belgium Punish India’s Defensive Frailties in 5–1 Win at FIH Pro League: Relegation Threat Looms for Women in Blue
The Indian Women’s Hockey Team suffered a crushing 1–5 defeat to Belgium in their FIH Pro League 2024–25 encounter in Antwerp on Saturday. What began with early promise and a Deepika goal for India quickly spiralled into a defensive unraveling, with Belgium capitalising on an incredible 17 penalty corners converting five of them to complete a dominant win.
The result leaves India winless in Europe and teetering dangerously close to relegation, as the battle for survival in the elite division now boils down to India and England.
India Strike First, But Belgium Take Over
Despite coming into the match off the back of a narrow loss to Spain, the Belgian Red Panthers were determined to make their home advantage count. Yet it was India who struck first. Against the run of early play, the visitors were awarded their first penalty corner in the 6th minute and Deepika made it count.
Her drag-flick deflected off a Belgian stick and zipped through goalkeeper Elena Sotgiu’s legs to give India a surprise 1–0 lead.
The goal came against the tide of Belgian pressure. Belgium had already earned a penalty corner within the first minute, with Savita Punia making a sharp save. India were compact and disciplined in defence early on, sitting deep and waiting for counterattacking opportunities a strategy that initially bore fruit.
Sustained Pressure Yields Reward for Hosts
India’s midfield, spearheaded by Navneet Kaur and Salima Tete, looked composed under pressure in the second quarter. Salima even earned a second penalty corner for India in the 23rd minute after a smart run down the right, but the set piece came to nothing. At the other end, Belgium continued to pile on the pressure, drawing penalty corner after penalty corner but failing to breach India’s defences in the first half.
Bichu Devi, who came on to relieve Savita, made a key save from Lisa Moors just before the break, ensuring India held onto a slender 1–0 lead at half-time despite Belgium registering 10 circle entries to India’s four.
Brasseur Leads the Turnaround in Second Half
The second half saw Belgium completely dominate. They began the third quarter with intensity and purpose, earning five more penalty corners. India’s resistance finally broke in the 37th minute when Hélène Brasseur latched on to a mis-stopped corner and thumped the ball past Bichu Devi on her backhand. It was only Brasseur’s second international goal, but it sparked Belgium’s surge.
Just four minutes later, Lucie Breyne added another, diving to deflect a rebound past the outstretched Savita after yet another penalty corner giving Belgium a 2–1 lead and turning the match on its head.
Final Quarter Collapse: India Run Out of Answers
In the final quarter, India attempted to push higher up the pitch in search of an equaliser. But as their defensive shape stretched, Belgium exposed the cracks.
In the 54th minute, Ambre Ballenghien pounced on a rebound off another penalty corner, slotting it past Bichu to make it 3–1. Two minutes later, Brasseur was again in the right place at the right time, deflecting a well-placed drag-flick into the net to extend the lead to 4–1.
India were now scrambling. Their defensive structure had completely given way under Belgium’s relentless PC routines and superior tactical execution. The final blow came in the 58th minute when a foul inside the circle led to a penalty stroke. Charlotte Englebert stepped up and calmly converted, sealing a convincing 5–1 victory for the home side.
Set-Piece Masterclass from Belgium
A key takeaway from the match was Belgium’s clinical efficiency from set pieces. All five of their goals came from penalty corner variations — a testament to their preparation, precision, and tactical versatility. While India managed to score from their very first PC, they failed to convert the remaining two opportunities.
Belgium, meanwhile, earned 17 penalty corners an astonishing number, especially in the context of a top-level international match. Their ability to extract PCs through sustained pressure, smart stickwork, and quick hands in tight spaces exposed India’s lack of discipline and structure in defence.
Red Flags for India: Relegation Threat Becomes Real
This was India’s third straight loss in the Europe leg of the Pro League, following defeats to Argentina and Germany. The heavy nature of the scoreline also hurt their goal difference, which could be crucial in the relegation battle.
With Germany’s surprise 4–0 win over Australia, India now find themselves locked in a desperate race with England to avoid finishing at the bottom. However, unlike England, India’s fate is no longer in their own hands. Their Pro League survival may depend as much on England slipping up as it does on their own results.
The lack of attacking intent, absence of structure in transition, and over-reliance on counterattacks have all been exposed during this leg. Despite individual flashes from players like Salima, Navneet, and Deepika, the collective system has failed to adapt under pressure.
For head coach, the concerns are mounting. India began the Pro League with promise earlier in the season, including a win over China and a close contest with Australia. But in Europe, the team has been undone by tactical rigidity, lapses in focus, and an inability to respond to sustained pressure.
The challenge now is not only to arrest the slide but to inspire belief ahead of the rematch against Belgium. India need at least a draw and preferably a win in their next match to stand any realistic chance of avoiding the bottom spot.
What’s Next? A Rematch and Redemption Shot
India will take on Belgium again on Sunday at 4:30 PM IST, hoping to correct the mistakes from Saturday’s drubbing. Whether it’s rethinking their penalty corner defence, recalibrating their midfield structure, or simply regaining belief, India must bring something different to the field.
Failure to respond will not only end their Pro League campaign on a sour note but could also result in demotion to the second-tier competition a blow to a program that had, not long ago, been lauded for its Olympic semi-final showing in Tokyo 2021.
Final Score
Belgium 5 (Helene Brasseur 37’, 55’, Lucie Breyne 41’, Ambre Ballenghien 54’, Charlotte Englebert 58’ – PS)
India 1 (Deepika 6’ – PC)
Belgium’s 5–1 win over India in Antwerp was not just a reflection of superior finishing it was an indictment of India’s inability to withstand structured, sustained pressure over four quarters. With the spectre of relegation looming large, the women in blue must regroup fast and rediscover their identity. Because on current form, survival in the Pro League may soon slip from their grasp.
