India’s aim of retaining the men’s Junior Hockey World Cup title remained on track on Wednesday with a stout 1-0 display against Belgium in Odisha.
Germany, Argentina, France and host nation India all secured their places in the competition semi-finals by winning their encounters in the last eight.
Argentina’s superb 2-1 victory over the much-fancied Netherlands sets up a semi-final clash with the impressive France, who were comfortable winners against Malaysia.
Germany, the six-time junior champs, rescued victory from the jaws of defeat, scoring a dramatic late equaliser against Spain before edging the first quarter-final in the shoot-out, 3-1.
Germany goalkeeper Jean Danneburg came off the bench to produce a game-winning performance in the shoot-out.
Argentina’s superb 2-1 victory over the much-fancied Netherlands sets up a semi-final clash with the impressive France, who were comfortable winners against Malaysia.
France captain Timothée Clément scored a hat-trick of penalty corners to help his team claim a comfortable 4-0 triumph over Malaysia and secure a place in the competition semi-finals for only the second time in their history.
In the final match of the day, reigning champions and hosts India produced a magnificent defensive display to defeat Belgium by a solitary goal in a replay of the competition final from Lucknow 2016.
India emerged winners thanks to a 21st minute penalty corner effort from Sharda Nand Tiwari. India will play Germany in the last four.
Semi-finals
(All times India Standard Time – UTC +05.30)
16:30: France v Argentina
19:30: India v Germany
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