In what can be judged as the best match of the tournament, Great Britain and Belgium fought tooth and nail to get the better of the other. But in the end the draw was a just result as there was hardly anything to separate the two sides.
India will face Great Britain in the quarterfinals in Raipur on Thursday after the British drew 3-3 with Belgium to top Pool A in the Hockey World League (HWL) Final at the Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel Stadium at Raipur on Tuesday.
In what can be judged as the best match of the tournament, Great Britain and Belgium fought tooth and nail to get the better of the other. But in the end the draw was a just result as there was hardly anything to separate the two sides.
In the quarterfinals on Wednesday, Netherlands, which topped Pool B, will face Pool A laggards Canada while world champions Australia, who finished second in Pool A, will take on Olympic champions Germany. Hosts India, who finished last in Pool B with just one point, will play Pool A toppers Great Britain while Belgium will be up against Argentina on Thursday.
The last pool match between Great Britain and Belgium was neck and neck as both the teams played with tremendous pace from the opening whistle. Great Britain took the lead in the seventh minute with a field strike before Belgium equalised with a brilliant strike from Thomas Briels in the 13th minute.
It was an end to end hockey as both the teams attacked each other's citadel continuously but it was the British side which enjoyed the advantage at the halfway break after Alastair Brogdon restored their lead in the 28th minute.
The second half was no different as both Belgium and Great Britain were in no mood to give an inch to the other. The Red Lions equalised in the 38th minute through a fine field goal from Tanguy Cosyns before Great Britain took the lead for the third time in the match two minutes later when Alan Foryth found the back of the net. Trailing Belgium went on the offensive and attacked the Great Britain goal relentlessly and in the process earned a penalty stroke which was beautifully executed by Tom Boon in the 42nd minute.
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