Tokyo: Belgium beat Spain 3-1 on Sunday to qualify for the semi-finals of the Putra Hockey tournament at the Tokyo Olympics, joining Australia and Germany who had advanced to the stages.
Spain led 1-0 in the first round, but the red lion pulled the level in the third quarter when the top scorer Alexander Hendrickx scored a penalty.
The world champion then scored two goals to close victory.
They will take the winner of the clash between India and England on Tuesday.
Earlier on Sundays, Australia reached the semi-final by beating the Dutch in a penalty in Tokyo’s heat hissed, while Germany overcame Argentina.
Strong performance by goalkeeper Andrew Charter, who kept clean sheets in a shootout – won 3-0 by Australia after a score of 2-2 at the end of the regular play time – helped Kookaburras win the match.
“It’s amazing bloody,” Charter said.
“To get out here and bring a brief load, it’s good for my confidence and it’s good for a defensive team moving forward.” Australians have continued twice in the game, thanks to two goals by Tom Wickham, only to see the Dutch side who struggled hard to equalize the target by Mink van der Wederer and Jeroen Hertzberger.
GOALISE Dutch Pirmin Blak acknowledged the role of the charter in a shootout.
“Charter save some and it is difficult to get pressure on Aussies,” he said.
“I think if you miss three (penalty shots) and they scored three, they deserve to win.” The result means that the Dutch men’s troops will not play the semi-finals of the Olympic Hockey tournament for the first time since 1984.
Winustralia Germany will face Germany on Tuesday after Germany get an easy victory over the Argentine Olympic champions.
Germany opened the scoring in the 19th minute when Lukas Windfeder defender fired a low and hard penalty angle on the left side of the goal, leaving Argentina goalkeeper Juan Vivaldi there was no chance to stop the ball.
Ten minutes of entering the second half, the Germans add to their profits after scoring goals through other penalties, which gave them a little more for fear of Argentina.
“It’s hot and hot-minded Argentina weather and we just want to stay calm and play our German style and I think we did that,” said Forward Christopher Ruhr.
The fourth quarter saw one goal from each side, including bronze wind, left the final score at 3-1.