World Hockey League Finals 2017: India stuns rank number 3 Belgium in penalty shootouts
India produced a stunning display in the quarterfinals of World Hockey Finals played at Kalinga Stadium, Bhuvneshwar just a few moments ago. It was an amazing game with India scoring 2 goals in the second quarter, Belgium came back to equal scores at 2-2 and then 3-3. The penalty shootouts also went to sudden death. The Indian goalkeeper Chikte held his nerves helping team India to reach the semi-finals.
Indian team began on a positive note with SV Sunil missing a golden chance of giving India the lead in first minute itself. In the 4th minute, India earned a penalty corner but Harmanpreet Singh could not take shot properly. Belgium scored the goal in the 10th minute, India referred it to back stick umpire changed its decision. At the end of first quarter, scores were equal at 0-0.
In the second quarter too, India got an early chance in the 18th minute as Uthappa gave a pass to SV Sunil and was saved by Belgium goalkeeper. Belgium kept the possession and continued to put pressure on the Indian defense. 33 seconds before the halftime, India earned a penalty corner, the drag-flick was hit by Harmanpreet Singh and Lalit could not hit on the rebound. At the end of halftime, the scores were still 0-0.
The third quarter started on a good note with Gurjant Singh scoring a lucky goal in the 32nd minute to give India 1-0 lead. 2 minutes later, India earned a penalty corner and Harmanpreet Singh converted the PC to double India’s lead. In the 38th minute, Belgium Luypaert scored a great penalty corner and reduced the gap to 1-2 in favour of India. At the end of 3rd quarter, India led 2-1.
It was an amazing final quarter as Belgium levelled the scores with Luyapert scoring a goal with penalty corner in the 46th minute. In 47th minute, India again took the lead with a great penalty corner shot from Rupinder Pal Singh. It was a great game of hockey as Belgium levelled the score again with Charlier scoring a goal from rebound in 52nd minute. Belgium earned two back to back penalty corners in the last four minutes of game. At the end of amazing match, India and Belgium were equal at 3-3.
In the penalty shootouts, Belgium Bockheart and India’s Harmanpreet Singh missed their first shots. Chkite made an brilliant save while Lalit scored the goal to give India 1-0. India’s goalkeeper Chikte made another great save. Rupinder Pal Singh gave India a 2-0 lead. Van Doren scores Belgium 1st goal. Sumit and Akashdeep Singh could not score while Belgium scored the goal to level the scores at 2-2.
India took the first shot in sudden death. Harmanpreet Singh scores a brilliant goal to give India a 3-2. Chikte saves a brilliant goal to give India a famous win over Belgium.
India moves into the semi-finals of World Hockey League finals for the second time.
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