Xtra Time Web Desk: Indian men’s hockey team failed to live up to the expectation as they crashed to a 2-5 defeat against world champions Belgium in the first semi final of the men’s hockey at Oi Hockey Stadium in Tokyo Olympics on Tuesday. World’s best drag flicker Alexander Hendrickx scored a hat-trick for Belgium. Harmanpreet Singh and Mandeep Singh scored for India.
The first quarter saw three goals being scored. It was Belgium who took the lead from a penalty corner in the second minute. Loïck Luypaert scored for the reigning world champions. India equalized from their second penalty corner in 8th minute. Harmanpreet with a sizzling strike on the bottom left corner to square things up. India looking composed now. India took the lead in the next minute as Mandeep Singh scored.
The second quarter saw Belgium pushing for the equalizer from the start, the result of which they earned three penalty corners. They finally managed to score in the 18” through a penalty corner by Alexander Hendrickx.
The third quarter India had more possession but Belgium too were up to the task.
The fourth and final quarter saw Belgium dominate from the start. India received a setback as captain Manpreet Singh was flashed a green card, reducing them to 10 men in the 48”. Belgium made the most of it by bringing more men in the attack, resulting in getting three penalty corners in 2 minutes. Alexander Hendrickx scored his second goal from the penalty corner to give Belgium a 3-2 lead. Regarded as one of the best drag flicker’s Alexander Hendrickx scored from the 9th penalty corner in 49”. It was his second goal from PC in the match. Belgians kept pressing resulting in five more penalty corners. They were finally awarded a penalty stroke. Hendrickx made no mistake from the spot to extend the lead to 4-2 in 53rd minute. Sreejesh was taken off by Graham Reid towards the dying minutes. Belgium hit the final nail in the coffin by scoring the fifth goal in the 60th minute through John John Dohmen to seal a place in the final.
Belgium will meet the winner of Australia and Germany in the second semi final which will be played later in the day.