Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup : Belgium crush Pakistan 5-0 for a place in last 8
Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup : Belgium crush Pakistan 5-0 for a place in last 8
Olympic Silver medalist Belgium crushed Pakistan 5-0 to enter the quarter finals of the Odisha Hockey Men”s World Cup at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday.
After exit of Malaysia and China, Pakistan was the third Asian team to get eliminated.
Belgium started the game with an intention to run up a big win to move to the knock out stage. It made its intention clear by forcing a penalty corner in the 30thsecond. Though the award proved abortive, Belgiium did not give up.
From the second penalty corner in the ninth minute Alexander Hendrickx scored with a rasping flick. Before the teams broke for end of first quarter, skipper Thomas Briels made it 2-0 for Belgium.
And at the end of the first half, the lead had swelled to 3-0 with a goal from Cedric Charlier in the 27th minute.
After chage of ends, Belgium scored once in each of third and fourth quarters.
Sebastien Dockier made it 4-0 with a brilliant field goal while Tom Boon sc ored from a penalty stroke earned by the stinging flick of Alexander Henndrickx
Belgium does not have good track record against Pakistan. It has won only two games and lost eight others in previous encounters. One game that ended in a draw was later won by Belgium in penalty shootout.
Man of the match: Simon Gougnard (Belgium)
