The Indian hockey team will face a litmus test against Belgium in their Paris Olympics Pool B match on Thursday. India has started their campaign with decent performances thus far, with two wins and a draw, but their biggest test awaits as world number 1 Belgium won't give them any scope for mistakes. Harmanpreet Singh and Co. have played with positive intent, but the over-reliance on their skipper in front of goals is a sign of worry.
Stay Informed With The Latest Hockey Pool B Match Paris Olympics 2024 Updates Between India & Ireland:
MATCH RESULTS: Heartbreaking!!! India lose their first game at the Paris Olympics 2024 to Belgium in a thrilling 2-1 game. They will now face Australia in their next pool game.
⇒ What a save! Van Aubel blocks Harmanpreet’s corner off the line. India goes for a referral but fails to get a stroke.
⇒ DRAMAAAA!!! INDIA gets a penalty corner, will they level the scores?
⇒ Sanjay is shown a yellow card for a foul on van Aubel. India will be one man down for the next five minutes.
⇒ MISSED! Boon with a golden chance to double the lead for Belgium. He tries to take a shot, falling back to get to the ball, but does not connect.
⇒ Sreejesh saves! The second shot from Boon flies wide of goal but Belgium has a long corner which means it must have taken an Indian stick.
⇒ Belgium wins a PC! A circle entry from the right. Shamsher Singh with a stick check that leads to the short corner.
⇒ CHANCE! Abhishek takes a shot from the right side of the circle. Vanasch saves the first shot and then the second from Sumit.
⇒ India makes a circle entry from the left but de Sloover with a timely interception to get the ball back for Belgium.
⇒ Belgium with the final quarter pushback.
A dramatic Third quarter comes to an end with Belgium taking the lead. Will INDIA make a comeback in the final quarter?
⇒ GOAL!!! Belgium takes the lead 2-1. Sreejesh manages to save the attempt again but there is a goalmouth melee with three Indian defenders and two Belgium attackers. And somehow Dohmen puts the ball into the goal.
⇒ The second shot is saved again but Belgium gets a third penalty corner.
⇒ The first attempt from Hendrickx is saved but Belgium gets another bite at the cherry.
⇒ A penalty corner for Belgium. Stockbroekx hits the foot of Sukhjeet.
⇒ Abhishek with a darting run from the Indian half. He plays it to Manpreet who is fouled by Hendrickx. A green card for a Belgian defender.
⇒ India wins the ball from Onana as he tries to make a way into the Indian circle through the right.
⇒ Lalit is fouled as India is mounting a counterattack. No card was shown to the Belgian player though. Harmanpreet plays the ball in but it comes off Sukhjeet’s foot. Free hit for Belgium.
⇒ GOAL!!!!Belgium levels! De Sloover with some brilliant stick work to enter the circle from the left. Van Aubel plays it across the face of goal before Stockbroekx taps it into the net.
⇒ Belgium starts the proceedings for the second half.
With the second quarter ending India maintains the lead and Belgium is looking to make a strong comeback in the game.
⇒ Jarmanpreet intercepts once more but a loose pass to Mandeep sees him give away the ball.
⇒ India with a long spell of possession which ends when Jarmanpreet tries to find Sukhjeet in the circle but fails to.
⇒ Belgium launches a swift counter down the right wing. The ball is in the Indian circle before Jarmanpreet intercepts. Tom Boon is shown a green card for a foul on Harmanpreet.
⇒ A penalty corner for India. Sukhjeet with the most subtle deflection off a Hardik pass to find the Belgian foot.
⇒ GOALL!!! INDIA LEADS! A howler by de Sloover costs Belgium a goal. He gives the ball away at the edge of the circle. Abhishek is waiting to pounce. He takes the ball, moves into the circle, and fires it to sound the board.
⇒ Abhishek with a neat turn at the center of the field to leave his marker behind. He opens the ball to Vivek at the left. He takes a tomahawk but misses.
⇒ India with the possession to get the second quarter underway.
Belgium’s penalty corner was the most clear chance in the opening period. India was able to save it. It has had the better of the possession but would want to covert that into clear shots at goal.
⇒ Belgium overloading the left wing but India not giving any space to make a circle entry.
⇒ Denayer chases an aerial pass played into the Indian circle but it has too much power on it and runs over the baseline.
⇒ Van Aubel fails to trap a long aerial pass and sees the ball run out of play.
⇒ SAVE! Vanasch is forced into a save by Abhishek. He gets the ball at the top of the circle and takes a shot.
PC FOR BELGIUM?
⇒ Belgium is going for a referral, appealing for a PC. Jarmanpreet is the target of an aerial pass but he concedes a free hit for dangerous play.
Time for the national anthems
⇒ The teams are on the turf. The Indian national anthem first, followed by Belgium’s.
Here's the Playing XI for both sides
INDIA: PR Sreejesh, Harmanpreet Singh (c), Jarmanpreet Singh, Amit Rohidas, Sumit, Hardik Singh, Manpreet Singh, Shamsher Singh, Abhishek, Mandeep Singh, Gurjant Singh
BELGIUM: Vincent Vanasch, Arthur van Doren, Gothier Boccard, Alexander Hendrickx, Arthur de Sloover, Felix Denayer (c), Antoine Kina, Victor Wegnez, Florent van Aubel, Nicolas de Kerpel, Nelson Onana Alima
Inputs by Agencies
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