Relevance for World Cup classification matches is a matter of perspective. For this Indian women’s team, which suffered a heart-breaking exit in its push for a semifinal berth, a best-ever finish since the inaugural 1974 edition was at stake.

Having picked itself up to go again, this side earned itself a small piece of history by finishing fifth with a 3-1 win over Germany here at the Wagener Stadion on Thursday.

It was a counter-attacking clinic as goals from Ishika and Navneet Kaur in the second half subdued the world no. 5 ranked side.

Starting the tournament ranked ninth, Sjoerd Marijne’s India has exceeded expectations in the Netherlands, pulling off draws against China (ranked 4th), England (7th) and Australia (8th) to add to this result.

It will now head into the Asian Games next month, confident of challenging for the gold.

After a passive start, Germany came alive in the second quarter, making multiple circle entries without threatening India’s goal. But it was India which shaded Germany for attempts on goal, when Navneet’s powerful backhanded drive drew a save from Finja Starck. Salima Tete was alive to a couple of rebounds but Starck kicked them both out.

Germany continued to dominate possession for majority of the game, but the Indian defense, which included tournament debutant, Lalthantluangi, held firm.

Then, against the run of play, India opened the scoring after Neha slipped a through ball for Ishika, who composed herself before lifting the ball past Starck for her first World Cup goal.

India found plenty of joy through Germany’s centre, repeatedly catching its defense out on the counter. After having gone three games without a goal, India suddenly scored three in the space of four minutes.

After going cold from PCs in previous outings, Navneet struck from India’s second short corner before she added another with a cool flick into the roof of the net from another turnover.

Germany persevered in the last stretch with Savita Punia needing to pull off a couple of key saves, but she couldn’t keep out Lynn Krings’ effort with 67 seconds left on the clock.

The result: India 3 (Ishika 42, Navneet Kaur 43-PC, 46) bt Germany 1 ( Lynn Krings 58).

It was a game of two halves with India dominating the opening 30 minutes, before China turned the tables to assert why it is ranked five places above its Asian rival.

India had eight World Cup debutants on show, who played with youthful zest but the inexperience ultimately hurt it in its 2-2 draw against China in its Women’s World Cup Pool D opener here at the Wagener Stadion on Sunday.

India deservedly went 2-1 ahead at the break after goals from Navneet Kaur and Deepika. India’s vertical approach, through the wings, troubled China’s backline as Deepika and Lalremsiami, in particular, looked dangerous with their dribbling and close control.

The opening goal came in the seventh minute when Neha fired in a pass to Navneet, which she deftly guided past several feet into the bottom corner of the goal.

But a poor foul inside the circle by defender Shilpi Dabas, playing only her sixth senior game, in the dying seconds of the first quarter, allowed China to get on the scoresheet from a Ying Zhang penalty stroke.

At the end of the first quarter tactical team talk, India responded to Sjoerd Marijne’s animated instructions by outplaying China.

Every time China looked to play out of its own half, the Indian players swarmed around them, snapping at them, to win the ball and force a turnover. In the 24th minute, Deepika’s mazy run into the circle, earned India its third Penalty Corner, from which she converted.

But early in the second half, the warning signs started to ring for the Indian team. China cut out India’s outlet of playing the ball out from the flanks and pinned it in its own half.

China’s gangly midfielder Li Hong asserted herself, dictating play, before it restored parity for the second time from a rasping dragflick from Ma Ning.

In the last two quarters, China had 13 circle penetrations to India’s three, while adding four PC opportunities to restrict India to none. Savita Punia made crucial interventions as India hung for a valuable point.

The Indian men’s team will take on England in its second Pool D game on Monday.

The result: China 2 (Ying Zhang 14, Ma Ning 38) drew with India 2 (Navneet Kaur 7, Deepika 24).