Hockey World Cup: India beat Wales but fail to top pool, will meet New Zealand in crossovers for a place in quarterfinals | Hockey News

BHUBANESWAR: With the pressure on the scoreboard clearly after England’s comfortable win over Spain, India succumbed and were almost held by debutants Wales, until Akashdeep Singh saved the hosts with a stunning goal and skipper Harmanpreet Singh finally opens his goal account on a drag-flick for a 4-2 win at Kalinga Stadium.
The result means India finished runners-up in Pool D and will now face the anxiety of a crossover match against New Zealand for a place in the quarter-finals. Meanwhile, England secured direct qualification to the last eight by finishing top of the group, level on points with India but ahead on goal difference. England finished with a goal difference of +9 while India had +4.

England’s 4-0 victory over the Spaniards earlier in the day meant India needed to win by an eight-goal margin against Wales, but a scoreless first quarter was not what starting coach Graham Reid would have liked.
How it happened
Shamsher broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute and Akashdeep doubled the lead in the 33rd minute.
However, Wales silenced the crowd by knocking twice within three minutes. First it was Gareth Furlong in the 43rd minute on a penalty corner, then Jacob Draper in the 45th minute on a PC as well.
That followed a moment to the delight of the oldies when Sukhjeet Singh sent the ball less behind him to set up Akashdeep for his second goal – a brilliant tomahawk from the top of the circle to make it 3-2.
The wait for a goal on Harmanpreet’s drag flicks finally came to an end when he rang the board in the 60th minute to seal victory, but not with a score India needed for a direct place in quarters.