Kalinga Stadium witnessed a full house during the second pool match of host India with Belgium. The home crowd considered as the 12th man for the host country stayed with the team throughout the play though the team trailed till the third quarter. The match finally ended in a draw (2-2) after the host team conceded a goal in the last minutes.

Holding tricolours fans thronged the stadium much before the start of play and cheered every move of the home team. The crowd remained on their toes after Belgium took the lead and continued to penetrate the Indian defence in the first half. The crowd kept the mobile torches on to encourage the home team.

“The match swung like a pendulum with both the teams dominating in each halves. We could not have asked for a better on field action as both the teams fought till the end. We are optimistic that the host country will top the points table in the pool stage and advance in to last eight,” said Sameer Nanda, a spectator.

The host country will play its last pool match against Canada on December 8. The stadium is likely to remain jam-packed during the last pool match as tickets for the match have been sold out much earlier. The match against Canada will be crucial as India has won its first match against South Africa while the second match against Belgium ended in a draw.

On the other hand Belgium had defeated Canada in its first pool match.

Former Indian captain Dilip Tirkey hailed the home team for their never dying spirit. “The team lost the plot on first two quarters and allowed the opposition to dominate. But once the host team started showing better coordination they not only dominated but also took the lead the match despite trailing,” said Tirkey.