India vs Belgium World Hockey League Semis Highlights: India Thrashed by Hosts Belgium
India suffered a thrashing at the hands of hosts Belgium, losing 4-0. Catch all the highlights here.
India lose 4-0 vs Belgium in the semifinal, face Great Britain in the 3rd-4th place playoff. Australia and Belgium face off in the final. Catch all the highlights here.
23.33: It's all over! India have been thoroughly outplayed by a solid Belgian side, who win 4-0 to storm through to the final.
23.21: GOAL! Belgium go up 4-0. Continued saves from Sreejesh is not enough to stop Belgium from eventually putting the ball in the back of the net. Just six minutes left in Q4.
23.20: Yet another penalty corner for Belgium.
23.17: Oh dear! Injury concerns for India. Akashdeep limps to the sideline with a possible hamstring strain. Nikkin Thimmaiah replaces him right away. Under 10 minutes remain in the final quarter.
23.16: The drag flick slams Manpreet's foot, and it's another penalty corner for Belgium.
23.15: India have lost their referral as the penalty corner stays.
23.14: Four minutes into Q4 and Belgium have another penalty corner. India have referred the decision.
23.03: GOAL! Belgium have another goal! India sink further, trail by 3-0 in Q3.
22.59: MISSED CHANCE! Rupinder Pal Singh fires the penalty corner wide. Belgium lead 2-0.
22.58: Nine minutes into Q3, India win their first penalty corner.
22.48: India coach Paul van Ass: I still think we played well. It's a young team, the nerves got to us early. We need to hang in there and it could still be a good game. If we score in the next quarter, we will win.
22.46: A testing second half awaits India.
Really disappointing first half. Miss trapping. Miss passing, over dribbling and poor teamwork in defense. Come on India #WHL2015 #IndvsBel
- Viren Rasquinha (@virenrasquinha) July 3, 2015
22.43: End of Q2! Belgium maintain their 2-0 lead v India.
India has made all the attacks from right flank, need to use the other flank, spread the game, make it difficult for Belgium to cover
- Give Me Hockey (@hockeyind) July 3, 2015
22.38: India have been better in Q2 with Ramandeep and Sardar leading the attack. Still no goals though. Final minute in Q2.
22.31: Agree?
Terrible 1st quarter for Ind. We were slow, sloppy and soft. Lucky to be just 0-2 down. Need to wake up boys. #IndvsBel #WHL2015
- Viren Rasquinha (@virenrasquinha) July 3, 2015
22.28: What a chance for India! Satbir does extremely well to steal a miscued ball on the edge of the circle and has a one-on-one opportunity with the goalie Vanash, who does fabulously well to come out and take it on the body.
22.24: END of Q1! Belgium well and truly ahead at the break. Lot of work to do for India. Can Sardar Singh & Co. bounce back?
22.17: GOAL! Belgium have doubled their lead. The first shot via the penalty corner was well-deflected by Indian goalie Sreejesh but he couldn't keep the second shot out. Belgium have a 2-0 lead with seven minutes to go in Q1.
22.15: Relentless attack from Belgium and they've won a penalty corner. Can the hosts double their lead?
22.12: Early pressure on India but they've responded well by attacking in numbers. End-to-end stuff, this!
22.08: GOAL! Tom Boon fires home inside the first two minutes. Belgium go 1-0 up v India.
21.46: In the last five head-to-head encounters, India lead 3-2 against Belgium.
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India's defence will face a stiff test when they face sharpshooters Belgium in a World Hockey League Semifinal last-four contest in Antwerp on Friday evening. World champions Australia and Great Britain play the other semifinal. Catch the live updates here.
Preview
Red Lions Belgium have a better head-to-head record against India in 2014. They have beaten Asian Games champions India in the World League Finals and then in the World Cup in The Hague. India's only win came in the Champions Trophy at Bhubaneswar.
Statistics will count for nothing today. Belgium, currently world No. 4, are playing their best hockey and India, world No. 9, will be tested. Experienced goalie PR Sreejesh will lead India's defence and it's just not the penalty corners, but Belgium can be dangerous with field strikes.
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So far, Antwerp has been a happy outing for India. The women's team can still qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics - they play Japan for the fifth spot on Saturday. Indian men have already qualified for the Olympics but would like a podium finish in Antwerp.
Later this year, India will host the World League finals and coach Paul Van Ass wants to be in New Delhi "as a matter of right and not as hosts." Interestingly, India's arch-rivals Pakistan suffered an Olympic heartbreak after losing to minnows Ireland 1-0 in a classification match.
India beat Malaysia 3-2 in the quarterfinals. It was a close contest but the silver lining was Jasjit Singh's goals from penalty corners. In the absence of V. Raghunath and Rupinderpal Singh, India seems to have found a short corner specialist in Jasjit. Today will be a big day for the Sansarpur lad.
Belgium have loved to attack, even at the cost of leaving holes in their defence. They beat France 5-4 in the quarterfinals, after being well served by their key players Tom Boon and captain John Dohmen.
India vs Belgium starts at 10 PM IST.
Satbir stole a miscued ball on the edge of Bel circle, in a one to one, goalie comes up and takes it on body, a golden chance for India to narrow the gap goes abegging