Indian players celebrate after scoring against Belgium in their quarterfinal clash in Chennai on Friday.
Credit: PTI Photo
Chennai: Belgium were coming in with two easy wins and a tough loss against higher-ranked Spain. The world No. 7 side, learning some hard lessons from the defeat, perhaps helped them step on to the field on Friday with a sharper game.
India, on the other hand, had three easy victories in the pool stage. Without their best tested or underutilised, the anxiety of facing their biggest challenge yet was evident.
What was a timid and nervous start for the PR Sreejesh-coached side against a solid and confident Belgium slowly turned into a physical slugfest and an edge-of-the-seat thriller post half-time.
Playing catch-up for most parts of the quarterfinal, India mustered enough courage to eke out a 4-3 win against Belgium via shootout after the scores read 2-2 at full-time in the Junior Hockey World Cup at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium. Goalkeeper Princedeep Singh emerged as the hero on a frantic night, producing two superb saves in the shootout.
Putting their taller frame and faster legs to good use, the Belgian players gave little room for the Indians to play fluidly in the first quarter. The Europeans had the first say in pretty much every department.
Charging in from the right flank, a squabble inside the right half of the circle saw the ball being passed to Gaspard Cornez-Massant on the left. With nothing blocking him, the 20-year-old reverse-slapped the ball into the net to give his team the first break.
The second quarter was a slow burner. India looked shaky and erred on multiple occasions but came away unscathed. At halftime the scoreboard read 1-0 in favour of the Belgians.
The flip in the switch happened towards the latter half of the third quarter. The full house, reduced to silence in the opening half, came alive in the 45th minute. Another PC, this time defender Anmol Ekka’s flick flying an inch outside the goal post. But somehow this miss appeared to have turned the tables for India.
The final minute of the third was when the stadium erupted. Captain Rohit stepped up to take the shot in the set piece. The 21-year-old’s power and precision resulted in India scoring the equaliser in the 45th minute. Finally, a much-needed PC conversion.
With the momentum on India’s side, defender Shardanand Tiwari found the back of the net in the 48th in the final quarter. With a semifinal spot within touching distance the Rohit-led team had found their stride. But, what’s Indian hockey without some last-minute drama?
Again, a defensive lapse playing the anti-hero for the home team, Belgium sneaked in their second goal through Nathan Rogge's stick in the 59th minute to equalise. A heart-in-the-mouth shootout followed, goalkeeper Princedeep Singh saving the last two Belgian efforts and Ankit Pal’s tomahawk finding the back of the net saw India winning 4-3 in a cracker.
Germany, Spain survive
With three seconds left on the clock, Bruno Avila converted a penalty corner to help world No. 4 Spain survive a resilient New Zealand in their 4-3 win in the first quarterfinal clash on Friday.
In other thrilling encounter, defending champions Germany's experience came to the fore when it mattered most as the world No. 1 edged past last edition's runners-up France via shootouts following a 2-2 scoreline at the end of halftime.
The third last-eight saw Tomas Ruiz's (52nd) lone goal take Argentina past Netherlands.
Results (Quarterfinals): India: 4 (Rohit Yadav 45th, Shardanand Tiwari 48th) bt Belgium: 3 (Gaspard Cornez-Massant 13th, Nathan Rogge 59th) via shootout, FT: 2-2; Spain: 4 (Nicolas Mustaros 2nd, Josep Martin 10th, Albert Serrahima 12th, Bruno Avila 60th) bt New Zealand: 3 (Sam Lints 22nd, 60th, Ryan Parr 34th); Germany: 3 (Ale von Schwerin 30th, Paul Glander 36th) bt France: 1 (Malo Martinache 30th, Hugo Dolou 55th) via shootout, FT: 2-2; Argentina: 1 (Tomas Ruiz 52nd) bt Netherlands: 0.
Semifinal line-ups: India vs Germany; Spain vs Argentina (Dec 7, Sunday).