New Delhi: France will face Malaysia, while The Netherlands will lock horns against defending champions Germany in the semi-finals of the Junior Men's Hockey World Cup at the Major Dhyan Chand Stadium on Thursday.
Jean-Laurent Kierffer scored a brace as France stunned European champions Belgium 5-4 in a nail-biting quarter-final match, while Malaysia beat Korea 2-1 in another last-eight match to register their place in the semi-finals of the mega-event after a hiatus of 28 years.
Earlier in the day, The Netherlands eked out a hard-fought 3-2 win over New Zealand to progress to the last-four stage, and holders Germany edged past Australia 4-3 in the final quarter-final.
In the quarter-final between France and Belgium, the Frenchmen scored through Victor Charlet (15th minute), Hugo Genestet (40th), Kierffer (48th, 65th) and Theophile Ponthieu (58th) to register a hard-earned victory.
Belgium's first goal was an own goal in 29th minute, while Maxime Plennevaux (37th, 47th) and Dorian Thiery (42nd) were the other goal-getters. It was exciting clash between Belgium, widely expected to do well in this Junior World Cup, and a French team that had only lost to them on an overtime golden goal in semi-finals of the European Cup.
Belgium earned a penalty-corner via a video-referral in the second minute, only to shot wide. Pieter Van Straaten had the first chance for France with a high backhand shot that was deflected by Arnaud Flamand in the Belgian goal. France wasted their first penalty-corner but Charlet was bang on target in the 15th minute to give the lead to Les Bleus.
Belgium immediately turned on the heat and equalised in the 29th minute through an own goal as both the teams went into the breather locked at 1-1. After the crossover, it rained goals as both France and Belgium were in no mood to give an inch to each other.
Plennevaux gave Belgium the lead in the 37th minute, but Genestet brought France back on par three minutes later with a well-executed penalty-corner conversion. Thiery put Belgium back in the lead two minutes later and then Plennevaux scored a spectacular diving goal to give the team a two-goal cushion for the first time in the match. But the Belgians were in for a rude shock as France scored two goals in a span of 10 minutes to level the scores.
Kieffer brought France back within reach and then Ponthieu tied the score in the 58th minute. Both teams threw caution to the wind in the final 10 minutes of the match. Belgium seemed to have an upper hand but France earned a penalty-corner with a video-referral and scored their third goal in a row that came from the sticks of Kieffer, his second of the match and the seventh goal of the period, to take the lead with four minutes to go.
Belgium replaced their goal-keeper with a field player two minutes from time, but the French defence stood tall to make their maiden appearance in the semis of the tournament.
Meanwhile, in the first quarter-final of the day, Netherlands had to toil hard to beat New Zealand 3-2.
For The Netherlands, Thierry Brinkman (28th, 39th) scored two field goals, while the other came via penalty stroke from the sticks of Tom Hiebendaal in the 42nd minute. The Black Sticks fought hard and scored through Nicholas Woods, who converted a penalty corner in the 38th minute and a field effort from Benedict van Woerkom (60th) but it was not enough to earn them a place in the semi-finals.
Malaysia, on the other hand, continued to impress in the tournament and secured a place in the semis, first time after 1985 Vancouver edition, by beating Korea 2-1.
Shahril Saabah (18th minute, 62nd) scored in either side of the break for Malaysia, while Korea's lone goal came in the 29th minute though a penalty corner conversion by Sinuiju You.
In the entertaining last quarter-final of the day between two heavyweights of world hockey, Germany rode on goals from Christopher Ruhr (21st minute), Dieter-Enrique Linnekogel (55th), Mats Grambusch (58th) and Niklas Wellen (65th) to get the better of the Kookaburras.
For Australia, Dylan Wotherspoon scored two goals (57th, 69th) while the other came from the stick of Will Gilmour (8th).
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