Get a place in quarter finals in World Cup
Harpal Singh Bedi / Bhubaneswar
Title contender Belgium sent incoherent Pakistan packing out of tournament as they hammered the four time champions 5-0 in a cross over match to storm into the quarter finals of the 14th Hockey World Cup at Kalinga stadium in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday.
Belgium will take on two time champion Germany in the last quarter finals on 13th December
For the winners, who led 3-0 at half time, goal scorers were Alexander Hendrickx (10th) Thomas Briels (13th) Cedric Charlier (27th) Sébastien Dockier (35th) Tom Boon (5rd)
Six time finalists Pakistan put up a very disappointing show and barring for seven or eight minutes in the second quarter, they were hardly in the match. It was indeed sad to see that once the hockey power house dishing out such poor game.
FT. The @BELRedLions make a statement of intent as they march past @PHFOfficial with a dominant performance on 11th December and seal a spot in the Quarter Finals of the OHMWC Bhubaneswar 2018.#BELvPAK #IndiaKaGame #HWC2018 #DilHockey pic.twitter.com/UORKUYO1B2
— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) December 11, 2018
The match started ominously for the Pakistan, who for the second time in tournament were not in their famed green Shirts, as they conceded a penalty corner in the 30th seconds but the defence did well to clear the danger.
Pakistanis ,in the white shirts, made counter moves and had controlled the mid field for some time but the World Number three Belgium soon regained the initiative and started looking threatening. They kept the pressure on the four times champions from both the flanks forcing the Asian side to beef up the defence.
Pakistan changed the tactics and stated playing from the back but they lacked the speed and their crosses were bit slow and the rivals had no difficulty in intercepting them.
After playing in the middle for couple of minutes Belgium made an incisive move as Victor Wegnez made a dash towards the goal and his hit across the face of the goal, which fetched the Red Sticks a penalty corner. though the Pakis defended it but conceded the third penalty corner and ttime Alexander Hendrickx with a low smash sent the ball home giving no chance to . Imran Butt in the goal (1-0 )
Before Pakistan defenders could recover from this jolt ,Belgium breached their citadel for the second time and this time Thomas Briels captalize on the defensive lapse to send the ball in the cage (2-0)
The Pakistanis tried to take off the pressure from their defence and made a very good move which got them a penalty corner, however the strikers delayed taking the crack and threat was averted.
Pakistani went flat out on the attack and Mouhammed Irfan (jr) and Umar Bhutta created good opening from the left flanks but failed to get support from the team mates as their measured crosses went a begging.
Then Shan Ali tried solo moves but he held to the ball too long and the rival mid fielders cleared him without any fuss. As it looked Pakistanis were getting into their rhythm the defence committed a blunder and unmarked Cedric Charlier with a reverse sweep sent the ball home to the surprise of the goal keeper Imran Butt(3-0) This goal coming from no where dealt a body blow to Pakistani resistance.
Five minutes into the second half Pakistani defence against collapsed with Simon Gougnard making a fine run down his flank and creating an opening for . Sebastien Dockier who side steeped a player and smashed the ball into the net (4-0).
Taking virtually an unbeaten lead the Belgians slowed down their game. It looked that assured of their quarter final berth they wanted to save their energies for the crucial quarter finals . The Pakistanis were so demoralised that they could not take advantage of the situation.
Belgians should have pumped in three more goals in the third quarter but for the missed chance and poor shooting by their forwards . Seven minutes before the final whistle Belgium earned their 7th penalty corner which led to a stroke and Tom Boon made no mistake in converting it to complete the rout (5-0)
The final whistle must have come as a relief for the former champions who had a very unimpressive run in this edition of the tournament.