India exhibited a repeat of their performance from the last home Junior World Cup in Bhubaneswar, beating Belgium in the quarter-finals and marching into the semi-finals. Skipper Rohit Ekka (44’) opened the scoring followed by Shardanand Tiwari (47’). For Belgium Cornez Gasperd (12’) and Nathan Rogge (59’) found the net. After a tight 2-2 finish, India shone in the shootout, winning 4-3 with impressive contributions from Shardanand, Prince Deep Singh and Ankita Pal.
The humid Friday in Chennai was at Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium in little breezy condition and egged on by enthusiastic school kids in the stands, the India vs Belgium battle, which was also the last quarter-final of the day, started. Earlier in the day Spain, Germany and Argentina had secured their semi-final spots.
With a clean sheet record against Belgium in the knockouts at the Junior Hockey World Cup, the Blue Colts started the proceedings. In the 10th minute, Roshan Kujur created a penalty corner opportunity with a pass from Priyobarta Talem, but it was not converted. With less than three minutes left in the first quarter, Belgium’s Cornez Gasperd scored a stunning backhand goal from an acute angle on the left side of the circle, beating the Indian defence. The hosts trailed 0-1 at the end of the first quarter.
Extracting the errors from defenders, Manmeet Singh created another penalty corner opportunity but after a good injection, skipper Rohit Ekka on second battery didn’t execute the trap properly which saw the ball slipping away of which Shardanand Tiwari tried to capitalise but didn’t succeed. Belgium defended with clarity and with better possession and led 1-0 at the halfway stage.
In the third quarter, India continued on losing possession, the 39th minute saw Manmeet breaking inside the striking circle and passing it. Dilraj Singh found an opponent’s leg earning a third penalty corner. On the Arshdeep push, Anmol flicked wide outside the net. India started pressing forward, playing an attacking game and earning a fourth penalty corner in the dying moments of the penultimate quarter of which skipper Rohit in the second battery beautifully slotted home, making the scoreline 1-1. The hosts conceded four penalty corners in a row but defended brilliantly.
In the early minutes of the final quarter, a Belgian defender intentionally checked the stick in the corner, which saw India earning a penalty corner. Shardanand on the first battery capitalised on the opportunity, netting an impressive goal beating goalie Alexis Van Havere and helping India take a 2-1 lead at a crucial juncture. With less than 60 seconds to go, Belgium found a field goal with a final touch from Nathan Rogge’s stick and the match went into a shootout.
The shootout turned into proper cinema as three penalty strokes were awarded in India’s case and they were netted with precision by Shardanand. Trained under PR Sreejesh, goalkeeper Prince Deep held his nerve at the crucial juncture and with two beautiful saves he turned the match in India’s favour.
India take on Germany in the last four on Sunday.
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