HWL Finals: India beats Belgium in thriller

India is through to the semifinals!

Chitke is dancing! The stadium is up on its feet!

AND BELGIUM MISSES!

India scores!!! Captain Manpreet Singh scores! 

Its Sudden Death time

Akashdeep Singh can't get it through. It's 2 - 2 in the shootout too!

Belgium equalises again! India 2 Belgium 2

India misses! India 2 Belgium 1

Belgium statys alive! India 2 Belgium 1

Rupinder Pal Singh doubles the lead. India 2 Belgium 0

Chitke saves, Belgium misses!

India scores - Lalit Upadhyay grabs the lead. India 1 Belgium 0

Belgium misses, again. Hits over the post!

India takes the next! Harmanpreet misses!

Belgium takes the first shoot-out. Akash Chitke saves!

The match will be decided on penalty shoot-out!

And referee signals the end of what has been a crackerjack of a contest. In the end, Belgium came from behind to hold the host to 3-3!

Belgium 3 India 3

Belgium does it again. And this time its Cedric Charlier who scores! It's turning out to be a goal fest at the Kalinga stadium.

The dying minutes of the match are upon us - Last 10 minutes and India leads Belgium by one goal. But given how this session has panned out so far, all three results are possible!

Belgium 2 India 3

It's all happening at the Kalinga stadium. Rupinder Pal Singh puts India on top!

Belgium 2 India 2

And Luypaert does it again! Belgium has the equaliser. What a game this is turning out to be!

Fourth quarter gets underway

 

What a third quarter we've had! Both teams opening their accounts, India taking a 2-0 lead but Belgium restores semblance of parity with one goal. The match is headed for a thrilling finish. Don't go anywhere!

And Belgium pulls one back. Luypaert scores!

Belgium 1 India 2

India has Belgium on the ropes here.

And India scores again. Harmanpreet doubles the lead!!!

Belgium 0 India 2

India gets another Penalty Corner!

2" Belgium comes close to getting the equaliser but Indian keeper fends off the attack.

India grabs the lead, Gurjant Singh drawing first blood!

Belgium 0 India 1

At half-time, India had four shots on goal to Belgium's one!

Third quarter gets underway

 

What a quarter that was. India piling attack on the Belgian defence which is somehow thwarting every hit!

A Penalty Corner for India and another miss! India needs to convert these chances.

Belgium has 66% possession but India clearly has its nose in front here.

Five minutes from half-time, the scoreboard reads Belgium 0 - India 0

Something's got to give here. India searching for the opener has Belgium on its toes - relentless attack from the host!

3" A close shave for Belgium as India's S. Sunil misses by a whisker!

Second quarter gets underway

 

First quarter gets underway

After an action packed first quarter, India holds Belgium to 0-0. India showing great intent, Belgium getting caught offguard every now and then.

Belgium enjoying 59% possession at the moment.

And some sloppy defending from India sees it concede the first goal of the night! But India reviews! And keeps it referral. The goal is nullified. What drama!!!

Last five minutes of the first quarter - The deadlock remains!

Akashdeep Singh reaches a milestone

 

First Penalty Cornet for the host! And Belgium survives a scare. Good work by the keeper.

5" Much better defending from India tonight - taking the attack to Belgium as we speak, something that was amiss during the last encounter!

 

Meanwhile,

 

Hello and Good Evening!

Welcome to Sportstarlive's LIVE coverage of the Hockey World League Finals.

In the first match of the evening, Australia thumped Spain 4-1 at the Kalinga stadium in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The focus now shifts to the second match of the night, where host India will lock horns with Olympic silver medallist Belgium.

To know how India stacks up in the lead up to the crucial encounter, read our preview here - India hopes to tie all loose ends together

Here's India's starting XI for the quarterfinal: Harmanpreet Singh, Rupinder Pal, Manpreet Singh, Gurjant Singh, Suraj Karkera, Uthappa Sannuvanda,Varun Kumar, Sunil Sowmarpet, Birendre Lakra, Akashdeep Singh, Chinglensana Kangujam

Belgium Starting XI: Arthur van Doren, Dorian Thiery, John-John Dohmen, Florent van Aubel, Amaury Keusters, Gauthier Boccard, Emmanuel Stockbroekz, Thomas Briels, Vincent Vanasch, Loick Luypaert, Victor Wegnez