New Delhi: Netherlands scored two first half goals to shut the door on Olympic champions Germany with a fighting 2-1 win and enter the semifinals of the Hero Hockey World League Final at the Major Dhyan Chnd National Stadium, here today.
World ranked three Netherlands started positively and took the lead as early as in the opening minute of the game from their first penalty corner which was converted by Mink van der Weerden.
The Netherlands outplayed world number one Germany, at least in the first half, and continued their attacking game. The Dutchman doubled their lead five minutes later through a field goal from Seve van Ass (6th minute) to rattle the Germans.
The Germans got their first scoring chance five minutes from half time in the form of a penalty corner but wasted the opportunity to go into the breather trailing 0-2. The Germans played with more intensity after the change of ends and managed to pull one back three minutes into the second period through captain Oliver Korn (38th minute), who tapped home from close range after he was set up by some nice stickwork from Florian Fuchs.
Thereafter, both the teams battled hard for goals and the Germans came close on a number of occasions but Netherlands goalkeeper Jaap Stokmann was upto the task. The Netherlands too had plenty of try at the opposition goal and if not for a brilliant Nicolas Jacobi under the German goal the scoreline could have been different.
Jacobi came up with some brilliant saves in the last quarter of the game to keep Germany in the hunt. Just three minutes from the final hooter, the Germans managed to find the back of the Dutch net but the goal was disallowed after Netherlands went for the referral.
Netherlands will face the winner of the fourth quarterfinal between world number 2 Australia and hosts India in the second semifinal on Friday, while Germany will play the loser of the final last-eight game in the 5-8 play-off encounter.
England beats Belgium 1-0 to enter semifinals of HWL Final
England beats Belgium 1-0 to enter semifinals of HWL Final
New Delhi: An impressive England continued their unbeaten run and defeated Belgium by a solitary goal in a hard-fought match to become the first team to book their place in the semi-finals of the Hero Hockey World League Final, here today.
The Englishman showed great resilience to soak up sustained pressure from Belgium and looked very uncomfortable at times. England should thank their goalkeeper George Pinner to keep them in hunt for the title with numerous good saves.
Belgium were by far looked sharp in attack and caught the England napping a number of times in the first half. After a closely-fought but barren first half, Belgium once again seized the initiative by winning a penalty corner in the opening minute but Pinner once again came to the rescue of England.
Dan Fox charged through the Belgium defence to win England their first penalty corner but to no avail. Two more penalty corners to England increased the pressure on the Belgium defence and it was Tom Carson (47th minute) who broke the deadlock with a fierce drag-flick.
Both the teams continued at an intense pace but it was world No 4 England who were forced to put up a staunch defence as Belgium piled on the pressure. English custodian Pinner made double saves at first denying Boon and then Gauthier Boccard to keep a clean slate for his team and hel on to the decisive lead.
England will play the winners of the third quarterfinal between New Zeland and Argentina in the semifinals, while Belgium will be up against the loser of that encounter.
New Zealand beats Argentina via sudden death to enter semis
New Zealand beats Argentina via sudden death to enter semis
New Delhi: New Zealand defeated Argentina in sudden death after both the teams were locked at 1-1 in regulation time followed by deadlock in penalty shoot-out, to progress to the semifinals of the Hero Hockey World League Final at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, here today.
World ranked seventh New Zealand seized initiative in the first half when Kane Russell converted a penalty corner in the eighth minute from their first scoring opportunity. Thereafter New Zealand controlled the proceedings in the rest of the half with better share of ball possession as the Argentines played catch-up hockey.
Argentina managed to earn two back-to-back penalty corners in the first half but failed to utilize them. New Zealand could have doubled their lead in the 28th minute when they were awarded a penalty stroke after Simon Child was stick checked by an Argentine defender inside the circle but captain Dean Couzins shot wide.
After the change of ends, the Argentines looked more organised and slowly and steadily got their footing in the match. The Argentine midfield and forwardline combined well in the second period to create a number of opportunities only to return empty-handed.
Argentina finally managed to draw parity in the 59th minute through Matias Paredes who slammed home a loose bouncing ball. Both the teams, thereafter, created chances but failed to convert them into goals to take the match into penalty shoot-out.
The one-on-one shoot-out also failed to break the deadlock as the two teams converted two opportunities each out of five shots, forcing the game into a sudden death. Both Argentina and New Zealand scored from the first attempt of the sudden death forcing to prolong the game further.
However, in the next round of attempts Argentina faltered but New Zealand scored through Blair Hilton to enter the last-four stage, where they will face England on Friday. Argentina, ranked 11th in the world, will take on Belgium in the 5-8 place classification match on Friday.
