Hockey World League Final: India edge past Belgium in penalty shoot-out to storm into semifinals

Hosts India had to overcome a stiff resistance from Belgium to secure a berth in the semifinal of the World Hockey Finals on Thursday. India held their nerves to hold the European powerhouses to a draw in regulation time and then stunned them in the penalty shoot-out to sail into the last four.

Warming the bench for most part of the match, goalkeeper Akash Chikte dished out a superb performance to hand India their first win of the tournament, a win that will erase all their wrongdoing of the pool stages.

It was a great exhibition of attacking hockey from both the sides as the regulation time yielded as many as six goals, three each from either side.

While Gurjant Singh (31st minute), Harmanpreet Singh (35th) and Rupinderpal Singh (46th) were the goal scorers for India, Belgium's goals came from the sticks of Loick Luypaert (39th, 46th) and Amaury Keusters (53rd).

But Chikte, who gave his place to young Suraj Karkera in the match and was brought into action in the 47th minute, stood up to his coach's faith and produced four brilliant saves in the shoot-out that went to sudden death to seal the famous win for India.

Unlike their last two matches, the Indians made bright start to the game and had a wonderful chance to take the lead in the opening minute.
But an unmarked SV Sunil was guilty of wasting the golden opportunity on the far post as he deflected wide a measured reverse stick cross from Gurjant Singh.

The hosts kept up the pressure and secured their first penalty corner in the fifth minute but Harmanpreet Singh's attempt was easily dealt by Belgium goalkeeper Vincent Vanasch.

The Indians controlled the tempo of the match, at least in the initial 10 minutes. But the Belgians found the net against the run of play in the 11th minute when John-John Dohmen pushed in skipper Thomas Briels' backhand pass but to the relief of the capacity crowd the goal was disallowed for back stick after India went for video referral.

Sunil then wasted an identical chance, just like the way he fumbled early on, the only difference being this time he missed the opportunity in the left side of the pitch.

It was again Gurjant-Sunil combination that produced the opportunity in the 18th minute. The Indians earned penalty corner just seconds from half time but again Harmanpreet's attempt was easily anticipated by Vanasch.

After a barren first, the third quarter witnessed fast- paced, exciting hockey that yielded as many as three goals.Just a minute after the change of ends, Gurjant gave India the lead, pushing in a ball from goalmouth melee after Sunil's initial reverse shot was saved by the Belgian goalkeeper.

India's semifinal opponent will be decided after the conclusion of tomorrow's remaining two quarterfinals.