AND IT’S ALL OVER! Belgium beat India 2-1, ending their winning streak and recording their own first win of the tournament.
59’ Harmanpreet comes in for Sreejesh with 11 outfield players for India in the final minute of play. A long corner to India and there’s now a free hit for India that’ll be taken by Manpreet! He is unable to score.
18 shots for Belgium and 7 for India show just how dominant the Belgians have been today!
54’ India appeal looking for a penalty corner and they lose their appeal! Both teams are now down to 10 men, with a yellow card to India and a green to Belgium. It’s Stockbroekx who is sent off the field! Mandeep was sent off the field for India.
It’s dead even between the teams on possession here! 50% possession for each but Belgium lead India on circle penetrations with 22 to India’s 15.
52’ A chance for Belgium – and the eighth penalty corner of the match!
Talwinder has been impressive tonight, all but spearheading India’s attack as he looks to wrest control from the Belgians!
END OF Q3! A penalty corner from Hendrickx in Q2 and now an indefensible field goal from Jerome Truyens in Q3 sees Belgium take a 2-1 lead going into the final 15 minutes of play here in London.
44’ and it’s Truyens who scores to give Belgium the lead!
Earlier in the day, table-toppers Australia beat Germany 4-3. A lot of action going on in London, and Australia have predictably dominated proceedings. The World No. 1 side took top honours at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup earlier in the year as well, and look to be in prime position for Olympic success as well.
Germany, meanwhile, are reigning champions at this tournament.
India have seized control of the ball again! Can they penetrate Belgium’s strong defense to move up ahead of Q4?
33’ And it’s another penalty corner! This time it’s to India, however, awarded for a stick check. They go with VR Raghunath, who flicks it! Belgian goalkeeper Vanasch prevents India from scoring with a right-hand deflection.
31’ Penalty corner to Belgium – their fifth tonight. They don’t score, however.
Q3 is now underway! Belgium appeal for a penalty corner and India don’t appeal!
HALF-TIME! Scores at 1-1.
Belgium were the first to score, with Alexander Hendrickx building off a penalty corner opportunity; Walmiki scores for India with a field goal off SV Sunil to equalize.
29’ INDIA SCORES! Devindar Walmiki is the one to score the equalizer with a field goal! SV Sunil attempted to score but took a fall, and Walmiki builds on his deflection to belt that one into the goal!
Scores now 1-1
27’ We’ve seen four penalty corners in this match, all to Belgium. No PCs awarded to India, and the Indians are now back on the attack. As Mujtaba fights to take it to goal, Belgium’s midfielders steal it back. Harjeet steals it back – but not for long!
25’ HENDRICX SCORES! Belgium lead 1-0.
23’ and some brilliant work from PR Sreejesh! Not one but two saves back-to-back and it’s a second penalty corner to Belgium! The goalkeeper stays firm in his spot, though, and with just over 6 minutes to go ahead of half-time he’s been defending well today.
6’ India refer and they keep their referral!
Q2 NOW UNDERWAY! Nikkin Thimmaiah attempts to push India into control but there’s nobody to pick the ball up from him with SK Uthappa looking to receive. He’s now found Thimmaiah.
Appeal for a penalty corner from Vanasch, the Belgian goalkeeper – and it’s in favour of Belgium! It goes off the foot of Mandeep Singh.
It’s drizzling at the venue and players
11’ Mor – Thimmaiah – and India is on the attack! With only 2:30 left in the first quarter players are fighting to be the first to draw blood here. Defenders have already shown their mettle just 15 minutes of play in!
9’ and Belgium have an opportunity to score! Gougnard pushes towards the goal and Devender Walmiki and PR Sreejesh both scramble to prevent Belgium from scoring!
AND THEY’RE OFF! Q1 begins at the Lee Valley Hockey Centre in London and already there’s a penalty corner in the first minute! Belgium are unable to score and India’s Talwinder takes it into India’s half. He runs away with it and sends a flier to Danish Mujtaba. No luck there either, though, as the ball is deflected off the goalpost. Still no score.
ALMOST TIME! Players have now lined up on the field and the weather’s looking bleak and cloudy ahead of this tie.
India take on Belgium in the ninth tie of the FIH Men’s Champions Trophy in London, England tonight. It is the third tie for the 7th- ranked team, who drew with Germany in their first tie. Following that, they played Great Britain, beating the fourth-ranked team 2-1. India had led that match 2-0 until a goal from midfielder Ashley Jackson, with England fresh off a draw against the top-ranked Australian side. With regular captain Sardar Singh rested ahead of the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, the side is being captained by star goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, who has put in singular performances in both of the side’s ties so far. The 30-year-old was absent for the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, but has returned for their final tournament ahead of the Olympics.
India, currently at 2nd in the tournament standings, have scored 5 goals overall following a 3-3 draw with Germany and a 2-1 win over Great Britain. Australia, who like India also have 4 points, are atop the standings on the back of goal difference.
In both their games, India held a significant lead before their rivals fought back. At the tie against Germany, India led 3-1 before the Germans put in a fight back in what turned out to be a penalty-corner rich game.
They also held a 2-0 lead over Great Britain before the side fought back in the end, with their only scoring coming off the stick of Ashley Jackson.
Although they are missing the services of captain Sardar Singh and Rupinder Pal Singh, India’s midfield is very strong, Manpreet Singh, Dharamvir Singh, Danish Mujtaba and Chinglensana Singh having all fired during this tournament already.
The Blues’ young talent impressed at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh, Malaysia, with the team eventually finishing in second behind the World No. 1 side.
Although Belgium drew 4-4 with Germany, they previously lost 0-2 in a shock upset to South Korea. Much like India, they led the Germany match 4-2 until Germany came back resoundingly in the final quarter to score twice and neutralize the match.
India have appeared to lose steam in the second half of each of their matches so far, holding strong leads with good performances from the blues’ defense, which seems to falter as the match progresses. If they are able to keep that constant, the team should be able to pull off victory against Belgium today.
With Belgium known to have a strong attack and India’s midfield and defense known for its strength, it will be an interesting tie in London today at the Lee Valley Hockey Centre.
