India beat Belgium 1-0 to enter semifinals, on course to defend Junior Hockey WC title

India,
who
beat
Belgium
2-1
in
the
final
en
route
to
their
title
triumph
in
the
last
edition
in
Lucknow
in
2016,
continued
their
domination
over
the
European
side
in
junior
hockey.
Shardananad
Tiwari’s
penalty
corner
conversion
in
the
21th
minute
was
enough
for
India
to
seal
their
place
in
the
last
four.

The
match
was
a
classic
example
of
defensive
class
from
both
the
sides
but
the
Indians
did
just
enough
to
edge
past
their
opponents.
India
will
take
on
last
edition’s
bronze
medallist
Germany
in
the
semifinals
on
Friday.

Six-time
champions
Germany
beat
Spain
3-1
in
the
shoot-out
after
both
the
teams
were
locked
2-2
in
regulation
time.

The
Belgians
started
aggressively
and
created
pressure
on
the
Indian
defence
in
the
first
few
minutes.
But
the
Indian
backline
produced
good
men-to-men
marking
and
stayed
calm
under
pressure
to
deny
Belgium.
In
the
13th
minute
Belgium
had
the
first
shy
at
the
goal
but
Indian
custodian
Prasanth
Chauhan
was
up
to
the
task
to
deny
Thibeau
Stockbroekx
from
close
range.

India’s
first
scoring
chance
came
just
seconds
from
the
first
quarter
through
a
creative
Uttam
Singh,
but
his
effort
was
kept
at
bay
by
Belgium
goalkeeper
Boris
Feldheim.
India
kept
growing
in
confidence
as
the
match
progressed
and
six
minutes
into
the
second
quarter,
secured
their
first
penalty
corner,
which
was
converted
by
Tiwari.

Tiwari
was
brilliantly
set
by
vice-captain
Sanjay
Kumar’s
dummy
and
the
dragflicker
made
no
mistake
in
putting
the
ball
into
the
net.
Two
minutes
later,
Manjeet
hit
the
side
netting
with
a
reverse
hit.
Belgium
got
a
penalty
corner
in
the
26th
minute
but
Jeff
de
Winter’s
flick
went
wide
as
India
went
into
half
time
leading
by
a
slender
1-0
margin.

The
Belgians
came
out
attacking
in
the
third
quarter
but
failed
to
break
the
resolute
and
determined
Indian
defence.
There
were
no
clear
cut
chances
for
both
the
teams
in
the
third
quarter,
but
the
Indians
were
guilty
of
holding
on
to
the
ball,
resulting
in
less
open
chances.

The
Belgians
went
all
out
in
the
fourth
and
final
quarter
and
controlled
the
proceedings
but
the
Indian
defence
did
enough
to
thwart
their
opponents.
In
the
50th
minute,
India’s
second
goalkeeper
Pawan
made
a
brilliant
diving
save
to
his
right
to
keep
Roman
Duvekot’s
attempt
away
from
the
goal.
Trailing,
Belgium
continued
to
press
hard
and
secured
a
penalty
corner
in
the
52nd
minute,
which
was
saved
by
the
Indian
defence.

Three
minutes
from
the
final
hooter,
Belgium
withdrew
their
goalkeeper
for
an
extra
player
and
also
secured
a
penalty
corner
just
two
minutes
from
whistle,
but
once
again,
Pawan
made
a
fine
save
to
deny
de
Winter.