HWC 2018: India storm into Quarterfinals with 5-1 win over Canada

ONI Bureau: Team India topped the Pool C with a crushing 5-1 victory over Canada at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar and moved to the quarterfinals. Belgium which beat South Africa 5-1 today, finished second. Belgium and Canada will play in the Crossover.

In the first game, Nicholas Spooner scored the goal in first minute for South Africa. However, Belgium dominated the proceedings after that and never allowed the Proteas to make a comeback. Alexander Hendricks (14th and 22nd), Simon Gougnard (18th), Loick Luypaert (30th) and Cedric Charlier (48th) scored the goals for Belgium.

In the second game, India came under pressure not just to win the match, but by a good margin to finish at the top of the points table. And, the Indian players did not disappoint their fans either. Harmanpreet Singh scored the first goal in the 12th minute, while Floris Van Son scored the equalizer in the 39th minute.

Both the teams were levelled at 1-1 till the 3rd quarter. However, India played highly aggressive Hockey in the last quarter to add 4 goals to their kitty and won the match 5-1. Chinglensana Kangujam (46th), Lalit Upadhyay (47th and 57th) and Amit Rohidas (51st) scored the goals. It was a great moment for local Hockey fans too, as Amit Rohidas belongs to Odisha.

Lalit Upadhyay was adjudged ‘Player of the Match’. India will play their Quarterfinal match on December 13.