Defending champions of the Hockey World Cup Belgium were facing defeat at the hands of Germany until the Red Lions found the equalising goal in the 54th minute as the two sides of Pool B played out a thrilling 2-2 draw to keep themselves in the hunt for a direct quarterfinal qualification in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday. Here, we take a look at the round-up of Tuesday's matches.
Defending champions held
It was Cedric Charlier who gave Belgium the lead in the ninth minute with a field goal but Germany worked their way back into the game strongly as they struck two goals through Wellen Niklas in the 22nd minute, and Tom Grambusch in the 52nd minute via a penalty stroke. Victor Wegnez scored a field goal in the 54th minute to save Belgium from defeat in the Pool B match.
Currently, Belgium and Germany are on four points from two matches, with the group topper being decided in their respective final matches on January 20 at the Birsa Munda Stadium in Rourkela.
South Korea beat Japan as FIH investigates infraction
South Korea came back from one goal down to beat Japan 2-1 in an earlier Pool A match. Lee Jung-jun struck two field goals eighth and 23rd minutes after Ken Nagayoshi had given South Korea the lead in the first minute through a penalty corner. South Korea are in third with three points. They had lost to Belgium 0-5 in their first match. Japan had also lost their first match against Germany 0-3.
Meanwhile, Twelve Japanese players were seen on the field towards the end of their World Cup match against South Korea here on Tuesday, prompting the International Hockey Federation (FIH) to investigate the matter.
Japan lost the Pool B match 1-2 and the FIH said the result will stand.
"In the last moments of today's FIH Hockey Men's World Cup match between Japan and Korea, the Japanese team had 12 players on the field of play, instead of a maximum of 11 as stipulated in the FIH Rules of Hockey," the FIH said in a statement.
"After the match, the FIH Officials – who have not spotted this situation at the moment – have spoken to the Japanese team who have explained that they hadn't realised this at all and expressed their most sincere apologies." The FIH officials have also explained the matter to the Korean team.
“FIH is currently investigating the issue to establish how it happened.”
(With PTI Inputs)
