Rio Olympics Hockey: India to Face Belgium in QFs After Finishing 4th in Pool B

India were held to a 2-2 draw in their final Pool B match of the 2016 Rio Olympics. Akashdeep Singh and Ramandeep Singh scored for India but it wasn't enough for a win.

After India's draw, in another Pool B match Argentina defeated Ireland 3-2 to seal the No. 3 spot. It meant that India finished the Pool standings on the fourth spot and will now face Belgium, top-placed team of Pool A, in the quarter-finals.

The Indians created numerous scoring chances but failed to get past the stout Canadian defence led by their goalkeeper David Carter, who made three wonderful saves to deny the PR Sreejesh-led side.

Canada, on the other hand, played deep on their own half and depended mainly on counter attacks.

The Indians escapes on at least two occasions when the Canadians pressed hard from counters.

India dominated the opening two quarters and created their first real scoring chance in the eighth minute but Nikkin Thimmaiah's reverse hit from close range was blocked by Carter.

Five minutes later, Carter once again came to his side's rescue by coming off the line to deny Nikkin.

India soon secured their first penalty corner but VR Raghunath's effort was blocked by a charging defender.

Canada then had the best opportunity to take the lead from a counter attack when an unmarked Matthew Guest found himself in one-on-one situation with Sreejesh but his reverse hit just went wide of the goal, much to the relief of the Indians.

Injury blow to India

India's best chance came in the 18th minute when Manpreet Singh and SK Uthappa combined well to enter the Canadian circle but once again Carter came in between India and a goal when he brilliantly saved the former's reverse shot.

Minutes later, India were dealt a big blow when SV Sunil was stretchered off the pitch after he sustained an injury by crashing against the sign boards while pressing for an attack.

India came out with more urgency after the change of ends and took the lead two minutes into the third quarter from their third short corner when Akashdeep scored off a rebound after Harmanpreet Singh's initial low flick was saved by Carter.

But India's joy was shortlived as seconds later Tupper equalised for Canada, converting their first penalty corner.

The equaliser didn't affect India as they pressed hard in search of goals and managed to restore their lead in the 41st minute through Ramandeep, who smartly deflected in a defence-splitting diagonal pass from Raghunath.

Canada soon earned their second penalty corner but Tupper's flick was saved by an alert Sreejesh.

Leading 2-1, India were dominating the proceedings but they conceded an unnecessary penalty corner to the Canadians in the last 10 minutes of the fourth quarter.

In an effort to commit himself too much while defending, Nikkin committed an unnecessary foul outside the circle which not only resulted in a suspension for him but also gave away another short corner to the Canadians and Tupper was upto the task, scoring his second goal of the match.

A desperate India went on all-out attack thereafter and even withdrew Sreejesh for an additional forward in the last three minutes, but they failed to break the resolute Canadian defence.

(With PTI Inputs)