3rd Hockey World League Round 2: Favourites Belgium drub Scotland 7-1 for second straight win

File Photo of the Belgium national hockey team. (Getty Images)

Strong favourites Belgium maintained their goal-scoring spree in the third FIH Hockey World League (HWL) Round 2 tournament crushing Scotland 7-1 to rack up their second straight win at the Stade George-Lefèvre in Saint-Germain, near Paris.

The Red Panthers were slow off the blocks conceding two penalty corners early on but managed to thwart them before gradually hitting the groove.

Sebastien Dockier gave Belgium the lead in the 10^th minute before he doubled the advantage a few minutes later. Florent Van Aubel made it 3-0 for Belgium in the 20th minute.

Scotland responded well and reduced the margin through Callum Duke.

Tom Boon, who slammed 7 goals in their 19-0 walloping of Portugal in their first game, got his name on the scoresheet at the stroke of half-time as the Redshirts led 4-1 at the break.

Belgium struck early in the second half through Loïck Luypaert before Tom Boon scored his ninth goal of the tournament. Tanguy Cosyns completed the decimation job, scoring the seventh goal for Belgium as they emerged overwhelming winners.

In another match, Canada nipped Poland 3-1. Mateusz Hulboj gave Poland the lead and held on to that lead at half-time.

Scott Tupper converted a penalty stroke to draw level for Canada before Mark Pearson tapped home a Scott Tupper’s low flick off a penalty-corner. Iain Smythe scored the insurance goal to lap up their second consecutive victory.

Hosts France consigned lowly Portugal to another heavy defeat, beating them 6-1.

France went ahead after Portugal leaked an own goal. The home side made it 2-0 through Matthieu Durchon and maintained the lead at the break.

Lucas Sevestre struck twice in the second half to make it a one-sided contest. France gave home fans a lot to cheer about as Arnaud Becuwe and Matthieu Durchon rattled the Portugal cage to win 6-0.

Earlier, in the first FIH Hockey World League (HWL) Round 2 tournament held in New Delhi, hosts and 9th ranked India and 15th ranked Ireland made it to the Hockey World League (HWL) semifinals slated to be held in Rotterdam (the Netherlands) and Johor Bahru (Malaysia) later this year.

10th ranked Argentina and 12th ranked South Africa qualified from the second FIH Hockey World League (HWL) Round 2 tournament held in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil).

The fourth and final FIH Hockey World League (HWL) Round 2 tournament would be held at Elektrostal (Russia) from May 27 to June 2.