Bhubaneswar, Dec 1 (UNI) The defending champions India defeated Belgium by 1-0 in the quarterfinal of the FIH Junior Men's Hockey World Cup here at the Kalinga stadium on Wednesday.
The hosts will meet the six-time champions Germany in the semifinal on December 3.
With the victory in the last eight, India have extended their all-time head-to-head record against Belgium to 5-0 in the tournament. The quarterfinal match between the two sides was the repeat of the 2016 final, where India defeated Belgium by 2-1.
Belgium started off in an electrifying fashion but couldn't find an opening goal. The side kept snatching the ball from India, but neither of them could earn a penalty corner. Indian mid-field looked not up to the mark, which provided gaps to the Belgians.
India attempted to control the ball but they were dispossessed by Belgium throughout the first quarter, which ended in 0-0.
In the second quarter, India's Sunil Jojo was handed a green card which forced him to sit out of the game for two minutes. The hosts finally woke up in the 20th minute as they earned a penalty corner. It was Shardanand Tiwari who broke the deadlock by converting the penalty corner into his team's opening goal.
Soon, India conceded a penalty corner in the 27th minute. The custodians of Belgium, however, missed the shot from the goalpost. The hooter signalled the half-time, with India leading 1-0 against Belgium.
Belgium's misery to level the score continued throughout the second-half of the game. The visiting side won their second penalty corner in the 52nd minute, but the hosts' defence stood tall and strong to keep Belgium attack away from the goalpost.
Belgium earned a third penalty corner in the 58th minute but India goalkeeper Pawan denied the opposition.
Earlier, Germany, Argentina and France progressed to the semifinals of the tournament. While Germany and Argentina fought hard to outclass Spain and Netherlands respectively, France had an easy outing to defeat Malaysia to cruise into the last four.
Germany handed a defeat to Spain in the shoot-out 3-1 after both the sides were deadlocked at 2-2 by the end of the second half. Argentina caused an upset 2-1 to eliminate Netherlands before France beat Malaysia 4-0.
UNI PN