Preview: India put up a quality display to thrash arch-rivals Pakistan 6-1 in a fifth-eighth classification match of the Hockey World League Semi-Final here on Saturday. Ramandeep Singh (8th and 28th minutes), Talwinder Singh (25th), Mandeep Singh (27th, 59th) and Harmanpreet Singh (36th) found the back of the net for India. For Pakistan, Ajaz Ahmad pulled one back in the 41st minute. [caption id=“attachment_3743953” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]
India’s Ramandeep Singh celebrates after scoring a goal against Pakistan at HWL Semi-Final. Image Courtesy: Facebook/@TheHockeyIndia[/caption] India will take on Canada for the fifth-sixth position classification tie on Sunday. This was the second time in this tournament that India has outclassed Pakistan by a huge margin. India had recorded their biggest win over Pakistan on June 18 when they thrashed their arch-rivals 7-1 in a pool match. India had crashed out of the race for the podium after suffering a 2-3 loss to Malaysia in the quarter-finals on Thursday and the second thumping win over Pakistan in less than a week will help to ease some of that pain. World No 1 Argentina take on Netherlands in the final of the tournament in what is expected to be a thrilling battle. Olympic champions Argentina beat Malaysia 2-1 while Netherlands beat England 2-0 to progress to Sunday’s final. England also face Malaysia for a third-place finish on Sunday. With inputs from IANS
Hockey World League Semi-Final 2017, highlights: Netherlands smother Argentina in crushing 6-1 win
FP Sports
• June 25, 2017, 22:23:32 IST
Catch all the live scores and updates of the Hockey World League Semi-Final in London.
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June 25, 2017, 22:20:23 (IST)
So, there you have it. Netherlands, Argentina and England complete the podium.
It was an exciting tournament and we loved having you with us.
Hope you enjoyed our live blog and coverage of the Hockey World League Semi-Final.
We will see you soon!
Till then, take care!
June 25, 2017, 22:13:22 (IST)
And that’s it from here at the Lee Valley Hockey Centre. Netherlands have beaten Olympic Champions Argentina 6-1. The 3rd place has gone to England who beat Malaysia 4-1.
June 25, 2017, 22:11:42 (IST)
An amazing performance by the Dutch. They got the early goals. Played with pace. Completely stifled Argentina. Deserving 6-1 champions.
June 25, 2017, 22:11:22 (IST)
Final scoreline
June 25, 2017, 22:10:29 (IST)
And Netherlands are the Hockey World League (Semi-Final stage) champions here at London. They have beaten Argentina 6-1 in a lop sided final.
June 25, 2017, 22:08:30 (IST)
Argentina have finally got a consolation goal. Matias Paredes flicks the ball over the Dutch GK. It’s 1-6 to Argentina.
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June 25, 2017, 22:07:00 (IST)
Netherlands make it 6-0. No cover for Vivaldi there. Thierry Brinkman scores.
June 25, 2017, 22:05:48 (IST)
Most of the world’s top sides would now start looking towards the HWL Finals in December in India. Eight of the top sides would be there.
June 25, 2017, 22:04:51 (IST)
Argentina look outnumbered on the pitch. Surprising for a side that can make life difficult for opponents.
June 25, 2017, 22:00:22 (IST)
Argentina coach Carlos Retegui, usually very vocal during the match is a quiet man now. He knows his side is beaten.
June 25, 2017, 21:59:18 (IST)
Argentina, a side so reliant on penalty corners have not got a single short corner in the match. Super play by the Dutch.
June 25, 2017, 21:58:03 (IST)
Netherlands have effectively closed the door on the Argentinian side. Even with a open midfield, the Olympic Champions unable to create anything.
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June 25, 2017, 21:56:36 (IST)
Last quarter and Argentina instead of goals get a five minute suspension for Juan Lopez.
June 25, 2017, 21:52:25 (IST)
End of the 3rd quarter. Final almost closed for Argentina. Netherlands lead 5-0.
June 25, 2017, 21:50:15 (IST)
The 3rd quarter is about to end. Argentina will want to pull back a few goals. Netherlands have slackened off a bit. But still tight in their defence.
June 25, 2017, 21:47:15 (IST)
Both the teams now playing quite open. Netherlands sit on a comfortable winning lead of 5-0. Argentina should press from the middle. But they have given Netherlands their 2nd PC.
June 25, 2017, 21:43:34 (IST)
Finally Argentina get a ball in and Lucas Vila can’t trap in time. A minute later, they have another opportunity but the shot is wide. Difficult for Argentina to come back now. Netherlands too strong at the moment.
June 25, 2017, 21:40:41 (IST)
And that’s the 5th. Mirco Pruijser reverse hit goes off the post and into goal. Netherlands lead 5-0.
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June 25, 2017, 21:38:34 (IST)
And Netherlands have scored the 4th goal. Robbert Kemperman from the top of the circle. Rising shot. Netherlands lead 4-0.
June 25, 2017, 21:37:27 (IST)
Start of the 3rd quarter. If Argentina concede more,the final will be gone for them.
June 25, 2017, 21:29:36 (IST)
Two quarters completely dominated by Netherlands. Just three shots at goal by Argentina. Can they come back now? Well, they did against England in the Pool match when they were down by three goals.
June 25, 2017, 21:26:41 (IST)
Score at half-time
June 25, 2017, 21:26:17 (IST)
At the end of the 2nd quarter, Netherlands have a 3-0 lead over the Olympic champions Argentina.
June 25, 2017, 21:24:17 (IST)
The only way the Olympic Champions can make their way back from here is to look for set pieces. Peillat needs a penalty corner to fire for Argentina.
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June 25, 2017, 21:22:25 (IST)
Absolute opportunistic goal by van Dam. Falling and flicking it high into goal. Vivaldi didn’t even see it coming. Netherlands lead 3-0.
June 25, 2017, 21:21:17 (IST)
Netherlands have got their 3rd goal. That wasn’t a back stick as claimed by Argentina. Thijs van Dam is the scorer. Netherlands lead 3-0.
June 25, 2017, 21:18:13 (IST)
Yet another Vivaldi save off the shot from Bob Voogd.
June 25, 2017, 21:15:59 (IST)
An amazingly fit Dutch side is giving nightmares to the Argentina defence. Vivaldi has kept out four shots at goal. Netherlands lead 2-0.
June 25, 2017, 21:13:55 (IST)
Argentina need to stitch together a few moves to get some confidence back. At the moment, they are losing the ball too easily.
June 25, 2017, 21:12:48 (IST)
Is there a position the Dutch captain Billy Bakker can’t play? Dominating the midfield play for Netherlands.
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June 25, 2017, 21:10:54 (IST)
Argentina get a green card for Facundo. Down to ten men for two minutes.
June 25, 2017, 21:08:14 (IST)
Start of the 2nd quarter. Argentina have a lot of work to do. And Netherlands using snap shots from the top of the striking circle. They are adept at that. Not a single Dutch forward wastes time.
June 25, 2017, 21:05:37 (IST)
That’s the end of the 1st quarter. Netherlands have a 2-0 lead. Both goals from Valentin Verga.
June 25, 2017, 21:03:47 (IST)
Now that looked a bit easy. Jorrit Croon races in from the right and his flick is pushed into goal by Valentin Verga. It’s Verga’s 2nd of the match. Netherlands lead 2-0.
June 25, 2017, 20:59:33 (IST)
Argentina save the PC. Netherlands see a shot go across the face of the Argentina goal. The South Americans are living a bit dangerously.
June 25, 2017, 20:58:10 (IST)
Superb move by Netherlands and it takes the best of Juan Vivaldi to keep the Dutch out. Argentina have a match on their hands. And that’s Netherlands first PC of the quarter.
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June 25, 2017, 20:56:03 (IST)
Netherlands playing up with four forwards. Using pace to stifle Argentina. The Olympic Champions will come back. They will kill the pace and bring Netherlands out.
June 25, 2017, 20:54:19 (IST)
Argentina a little stunned by the quality of that goal. They didn’t even get a second to stop Valentin. Lovely quality strike by the Netherlands.
June 25, 2017, 20:52:55 (IST)
Now that was a goal!!! Valentin Verga comes into the circle like a ghost. Slams it home. Netherlands lead 1-0.
June 25, 2017, 20:50:57 (IST)
That was close! Valentin Verga’s lovely cut into the circle and Thijs Dam just slices it over the bar.
End of Liveblog