India defeated by Belgium in Hockey World League Finals, finish 6th

Belgium defeated India in the 5-6 competition playoff, to claim the fifth spot, as India finished the tournament at the sixth spot at the Hockey World League Finals.

India were coming on the back of a famous victory against Olympic Champions Germany, winning the tie in the dying seconds courtesy of a penalty corner. But this time, they were undone by the penalty corner, as India were punished from a penalty corner just 2 minutes from time, as Belgium took the lead and defeated India with a 2-1 scoreline.

The game which took place at the Major Dhyan Chand stadium in New Delhi, started with Belgium on the front-foot as they attacked wave after wave and some last ditch defending was required by the Indians to keep the scoreline at 0-0. Belgium got close to scoring in the 17th minute but were denied by wayward shooting, as they shot one wide.

The game was full of end-to-end stuff, with no team finding the breakthrough, as we reached half-time.

Second half started with both teams looking to find the back of the net. Belgium were awarded two back-to-back penalty corners, but still failed to capitalize on it.India counter-attacked to win a penalty corner but to no use, as both teams were still level at 0-0 after 51 minutes.

After, about an hour of stalemate, India finally got the breakthrough, courtesy of a strike by birthday boy, Nikkin Thimmaiah, whose strike was also the 100th goal of the tournament.

India were looking to pull off another surprise victory, but were undone in the 68th minute, when Belgium scored their 1st goal via Florent van Aubel.

It was heart-break for India, with only 2 minutes left on the clock, as Belgium got a penalty corner, which India contested for a referral, but the decision stood and Tom Boon converted from the spot to help Belgium lead first time with a 2-1 lead. Belgium went on to win the game and claimed the 5th spot, as India succumbed to the 6th spot.