- India enter the semi-finals of the Hockey World League Final in Bhubaneswar.
- India’s quarter-final against Belgium went to penalty shoot-outs after the scores were tied 3-3 at the end of regulation time.
- India ultimately won the match 3-2 on penalty shoot-outs.
Silver medallists from last year’s Rio Olympics, Belgium have been knocked out of the tournament by hosts India. The same Indian team that failed to win even one of its Pool B games, and is ranked three whole spots below Belgium in the world, managed to pull off a massive upset by winning the quarter-finals in a shoot-out.
The match went into a penalty shoot-out after both teams were tied 3-3 at full time.
Keeper Akash Chikte blocked four Belgian attackers during the shootout, while Lalit Upadhyay and Rupinder Pal Singh were on the mark for India after 5 shots each. With scores tied at 2-2, Harmanpreet Singh stepped up for India and converted. His Belgian counterpart, however, saw his effort saved igniting massive celebrations across a packed Kalinga stadium in Bhubaneswar.
In regulation time, Gurjant Singh (31st minute), Harmanpreet Singh (35th) and Rupinder Pal Singh (46th) were the goalscorers for India. Belgium’s goals came from the sticks of Loick Luypaert (39th, 46th) and Amaury Keusters (53rd).
During regulation time, India scored the first goal of the match right after half-time. The ball connected with the sticks of a few players near the goal and Sunil's initial reverse shot was saved by the Belgian goalkeeper before a defender tried to clear the ball and instead delivered it right to Gurjant Singh. An easy tap in and India were on the board in the 33rd minute.
Four minutes later, India doubled their lead from their third penalty corner to sent the crowd into a frenzy. All this while in the tournament the Indians were predictable with short corners and it took a fine variation try from the hosts to make the scoreline 2-0 in their favour.
Harmanpreet converted the set piece after being set up by a beautiful dummy by Rupinder. But the Red Lions, the no.3 side in the world and known for their fighting spirit, made a valiant fightback and struck twice from penalty corners in a span of eight minutes to draw level.
On both occasion Loick Luypaert was bang on target with his set piece conversions to silence the crowd.
In the very next move India restored their lead when Rupinder converted their fourth penalty corner. But the Red Lions drew parity again minutes later through Amaury Keusters.
The Belgian, who were unbeaten in the pool stage, had two great chances in the form of two penalty corners at the fag end of the match to score the winner but the Indians defended well to take the game into shoot-out.
In the topsy-turvy shoot-out, Lalit Upadhyay, Rupinder and Harmanpreet scored from India.
(With inputs from PTI)
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