Junior World Cup Semi-Finals | India reach semifinal after defeating Spain

Junior World Cup Semi-Finals | India reach semifinal after defeating Spain

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Ā© FIH media

India came from behind to defeat Spain 2-1 to enter the semifinals of the Men's Junior World Cup Semi-Finals at Lucknow where they will take on Australia. Simranjeet Singh first scored off a PC rebound, before Harmanpreet Singh sealed the win with a well-taken drag-flick with just four minutes left.

With a massive crowd watching the final match of the day, Pool D winners India were determined to impress the home fans in the Major Dhyan Chand Hockey Stadium and started brightly, but it was Pool C runners-up Spain who ended up taking a 1-0 lead into half time thanks to a penalty corner drag-flick from Marc Serrahima. Spain were superb defensively, keeping the dominant Indians at bay until the 57th minute when Simranjeet Singh finished off a penalty corner rebound to spark a deafening cheer from the crowd. With four minutes remaining, the winning goal arrived thanks to a fine penalty corner effort from Olympian Harmanpreet Singh, who produced his best drag-flick of the day to send India into the final four.

Earlier, the first Quarter-Final match saw Pool B winners Belgium face a stern test from Pool A runners-up Argentina before eventually triumphing in a shoot-out. Belgium had the better of the first half chances but found Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Bosso in fine form to make a series of excellent saves to keep the Red Cougars off the score-sheet. Argentina threatened on the counter-attack throughout the first period, and it was they who took the lead early in the second half when team captain Maico Casella smashed a volley off the underside of the crossbar from close range. Bosso continued his brilliance throughout the second period and even saved a penalty stroke before Belgium eventually got their leveller, with captain Victor Wegnez scoring two minutes from the end to send the match into a shoot-out in which Belgian shot-stopper Loic van Doren excelled. Van Doren was beaten only once, with Nicholas Poncelet, Arthur de Sloover, Wegnez and Henri Raes scoring the goals to put Belgium into the Semi-Finals.

Belgiumā€™s opponents in the Semi-Final will be reigning junior world champions and Pool C winners Germany, who survived an impressive fightback to emerge as 4-2 winners against England, the second place finishers in Pool D. Goals from Jan Schiffer and Lukas Windfeder gave Germany a 2-0 lead at the break before Florian Scholten made it 3-0 with 18 minutes of the match remaining. England coach Jon Bleby removed his goalkeeper in the latter stages and it was a decision which was instantly rewarded, with competition top scorer Ed Horler netting twice in two minutes to drag the team back into the match before a breakaway goal from Olympian Timm Herzbruch sealed the victory for Germany. ā€œI was very concernedā€, said Germany coach Valentin Altenburg, referring to Englandā€™s late rally. ā€œYou could see that the game slowed down, they scored a penalty corner and they were suddenly alive again. I think that we were a little bit too much in the Semi-Finals in our heads, so I was concerned. We really needed that fourth goal and Iā€™m very happy that we actually made it.ā€

The third Quarter-Final of the day was a bruising battle between Pool A winners Australia and Pool B runners-up the Netherlands, with the Burras sealing their Semi-Final spot with a 2-1 triumph. Australia took the lead thanks to a wonderful piece of skill from Kirin Arunasalam, who produced a brilliant touch in front of Dutch goalkeeper Maurits Visser to find the net. Blake Govers squandered a gilt-edged chance to double the advantage from the penalty spot just before half-time, and it proved costly when Jip Janssen slammed home a penalty corner drag flick midway through the second half. The Australians were not to be denied, however, with Jack Welsh firing home a close-range winner following some persistent work along the backline from man of the match Lachlan Sharp. ā€œIt is going to be great to play in the Semi-Final of the Junior World Cupā€, said Sharp after the match. ā€œThey are always tough opponents, the Dutch, but we were lucky enough to come away with the win.ā€

Tickets for the event, which is taking place from 8-18 December, are on sale and can be purchased by clicking here.

QUARTER-FINAL RESULTS

Belgium 1, Argentina 1 (Belgium win 4-1 in shoot-out)

Germany 4, England 3

Australia 2, Netherlands 1

India 2, Spain 1

Confirmed fixtures

16th December 2016

15:45 Ā Belgium v Germany (Semi-Final)

18:00 Ā Australia v India (Semi-Final)

Ā© FIH media

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