Hockey World Cup 2018: Netherlands, Belgium Win Cross-Over Matches To Enter Quarter-Finals
Netherlands thrashed Canada while Belgium hammered Pakistan in the crossover matches of the Hockey World Cup to qualify for the quarter-finals.
Highlights
-
Netherlands thrashed Canada 5-0 in the first cross-over match on Tuesday
-
Belgium entered quarter-finals with a 5-0 win over Pakistan
-
France reached their first quarter-finals by defeating China 1-0
Netherlands and Belgium qualified for the Men's Hockey World Cup 2018 quarter-finals after they outclassed Canada and Pakistan by an identical score line of 5-0 in their respective crossover matches at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday. Netherlands will take on hosts India, while Belgium will face Germany in the quarter-finals on Thursday. The other quarter-final matches will be played between Argentina and England, and Australia and France on Wednesday.
In the first match of the day, Belgium scored in each quarter with Alexander Hendrickx (10th minute), Thomas Briels (13th), Cedric Charlier (27th), Sebastien Dockier (35th) and Tom Boon (53rd) finding the target.
The second match between Netherlands and Canada saw some brilliant hockey from the Dutch side. Netherlands were a little sloppy with the penalty corner conversion but at the end registered a comfortable victory.
Thijs van Dam (40th minute and 48th) scored a brace while goals from Lars Balk (16th), Robbert Kemperman (20th) and Thierry Brinkman (41st) helped the Dutch team to enter the next round.
On Monday, England outclassed New Zealand 2-0 in the first cross-over match. England, who will now take on Olympic champions Argentina in the first quarterfinal on Wednesday, scored their first goal in the 25th minute as Will Calnan got on the score sheet with a field strike.
Luke Taylor converted a penalty corner in the 44th minute to help England score a comfortable win.
In the other game, France reached their first quarters by edging past stubborn China 1-0. They will take on Australia in the last-eight stage on Wednesday. Timothee Clement sounded the board in the 36th minute.
(With IANS inputs)