India was outclassed 4-0 by host Belgium in a lop-sided semifinal clash, with Florent van Aubel’s fine hat-trick playing a pivotal role in the side’s passage to the final of the FIH Hockey World League Semifinals here on Friday.
van Aubel led the way by scoring three times, while Tanguy Cosyns found the net once as the Indians struggled for most part.
Early jolt van Aubel began the scoring as early as the second minute of the game, added another brilliant one with four minutes to go for the third quarter and ended it with his third goal in the final quarter.
Cosyns scored off a penalty-corner on the rebound in the eighth minute as Belgium led 2-0 at half-time.
The hosts came back to score two more times in the second half. It was an aggressive start by the Belgians and the hosts asserted their supremacy as the match progressed.
The Belgians were sharp on penalty-corner rebounds and well organised in defence, while the Indian backline looked slow and sloppy, with the sole exception of goalkeeper Sreejesh.
India’s best scoring chance in the first half came in the 26th minute when a raid caused some ruffle in the Belgian defence. The cross from right rebounded toward Yuvraj Walmiki off the goalkeeper, but Yuvraj’s attempt went wide of the far post.
India forced its first penalty-corner in the 30th minute, but Rupinder’s rising drag-flick went just wide of the right post.
Indian goalkeeper Sreejesh did well to block a goal-bearing shot from the right in open field play before Belgium got its third goal off a penalty-corner.
Sreejesh blocked Boon’s drive, but the rebound shot by van Aubel could not be denied.
van Aubel again featured in the fourth goal for Belgium as he capitalised on a goalmouth scrimmage following two shots in a 53rd-minute penalty-corner action that was blocked by Sreejesh, but van Aubel breached the defence with his deft shot.
In between the two Belgian penalty-corner conversions, India muffed its second penalty-corner in the 45th minute, when Rupinder’s low flick narrowly missed the left post.
Frustration was clearly evident as Rupinder hurled his stick to the pitch in disgust at missing the chance.
India forced another penalty-corner in the last minute of play, but even a consolation goal was denied as the ball could not be stopped cleanly for the shot to be taken.
Malaysia on course Malaysia, meanwhile, stayed on course for an Olympic spot when it defeated France 4-1 to qualify for the fifth-position play-off.
Pakistan shocked Pakistan, however, slumped to a new low suffering a shocking 1-0 defeat to Ireland.
Pakistan’s loss means it cannot finish above the seventh position in this tournament and the Olympic spots for 12 teams from both World League Semifinals cannot go below the sixth place.
This was the last chance for Pakistan to qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games, after losing the Asian Games final to India.
The results: Belgium 4 (van Aubel 2, 41, 53; Tanguy Cosyns 8) bt India 0; Malaysia bt France 4-1; Ireland bt Pakistan 1-0.
