Last Update: January 20, 2023, 23:41 IST
Belgium beat Japan 7-1 (FIH)
Belgium’s Tom Boon scored five times against Japan, while Cedric Charlier and Sébastien Dockier scored one each to secure a direct quarter-final place for the defending champions.
Belgium register a thumping 7-1 win over Japan to top Pool B and enter the quarter-finals at the FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup 2023 at the Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium on Friday.
During the game, Belgium’s star striker Tom Boon opened his World Cup debut with a 5-goal performance, increasing his team’s goal difference to +11.
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With a draw in the previous game against Germany, Belgium needed a big win against Japan to seal their place at the top of Pool B and qualify directly for the quarter-finals, and a first-half hat-trick by Boon saw them win 4–1. Goal leadership.
By the end of the first half, Belgium had increased their goal difference to +9 and with another 30 minutes to go, they further extended their lead over Germany, who had a game to go in their final match of the day against Korea. with a +3 goal difference. ,
Japan got off to a better start in the second half, holding Belgium out in the third quarter and scoring their first of the game in the fourth. But Belgium had the better of the game scoring three times in the last 10 minutes, including 2 more goals for Tom Boon, to win by a 6 goal margin and bring their overall goal difference to +11.
Tom Boon, who became only the fourth player to score 5 goals in a World Cup game, was awarded the player of the match.
“I think it is good to get 7 goals and +6 goal difference in the last 3 quarters, after no goals in the first quarter. Looking forward to play in the knockouts going forward,” he said.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)