HWL final: Belgium challenge awaits India in quarters

Bhubaneswar: An inconsistent India will have to raise their game by leaps and bounds if they are to upstage Olympic silver medallist Belgium in the quarterfinal of the Hockey World League Final here on Wednesday.

India, bronze medallist in 2015, finished last in Pool B after garnering just one point from one draw and two losses and will now take on the world no. 2 side in the knockout round after the Red Lions topped Pool A following their 3-0 win over Netherlands.

Belgium’s all three goals came from penalty corners through Loick Luypaert (19th and 30th minutes) and Tom Boon (32nd).

The victory margin could have been 4-0 for Belgium had Luypaert not missed a penalty stroke in the 50th minute.

In the other last eight clash, Spain take on Australia.

Spain, Belgium win
Spain rode on a couple of late goals to beat Argentina 2-1 in a Pool A match of the Hockey World League Final here on Tuesday.

Matias Paredes gave Argentina the lead with a field goal in the 21st minute. The Spaniards, however, staged a dramatic comeback in the final quarter with goals from Pau Quemada (50th) and Josep Romeu (59th) helping them earn three points.

The result sees Spain hold onto the second spot in the pool with six points from three matches. Argentina were at the bottom with a single point from three matches.

In the day’s other matches, Belgium thrashed the Netherlands 3-0, riding on a brace from Loick Luypaert. Luypaert began the scoring with a penalty corner conversion in the 19th minute. He hit home another PC 11 minutes later. Tom Boon scored in the 32nd.