CHENNAI, Dec 5:The hosts India continued their unbeaten streak in the Junior Hockey WC after beating Belgium 4-3 in the penalty shoot-out in the quarterfinals in Chennai to set their semifinal date with defending champions Germany.
India were trailing 0-1 after the end of the first half but they fought back hard in the second half to end the game 2-2 on level terms in the regulation time before stealing the win from Belgium in the shoot-out.
Belgium struck the first goal of the match in the 13th minute thanks to Cornez-Massant, who made India concede for the first time, to end the first quarter 1-0 in the lead. India won the fourth penalty corner of the match in the 45th minute, but this time skipper Rohit delivered to end the third quarter at 1-1. India won their fifth penalty corner of the match and Tiwari converted with ease to finally put India in a 2-1 lead. Belgium then pulled off a stunner in the 59th minute to level the score 2-2 and send the match to a penalty shoot-out. In the shoot-out, India’s Sharda Nand Tiwari and goalkeeper Princedeep led from the front to hand India a 4-3 win and take the hosts into the semis. (Agencies)
