Hockey World Cup: Netherlands, NZ make winning start

A round-up of matches from the Hockey World Cup played on Saturday.

Three-time champions Netherlands began their campaign in style, outplaying Malaysia 4-0 while New Zealand defeated Chile 3-1 in Pool C matches of the FIH Men's Hockey World Cup in Rourkela on Saturday.

In the opening match of the day, Sam Hiha (11th, 18th minutes) scored two field goals in the opening two quarters, while Sam Lane opened the account for the Black Sticks with another field strike in the ninth minute.

Chile's lone goal came from the stick of Ignacio Contardo in the 49th minute.

In the other match of Pool C, Thijs van Dam scored a field goal in the 19th minute to hand world no.3 Netherlands, who won the title in 1973, 1990 and 1998, the lead before Jip Janssen converted a penalty stroke four minutes later.

Teun Beins (46th) made it 3-0 for the Netherlands by converting a penalty corner a minute into the fourth and final quarter, while Jorrit Croon scored the final goal a minute before the final hooter.

The Dutchman sit atop Pool C with a better goal difference than New Zealand, who also have three points from the win.

While Netherlands and New Zealand will lock horns in their next pool match on Monday, Malaysia will take on Chile on the same day.

Belgium thrash Korea; Germany blank Japan

In Bhubaneswar, holders Belgium thrashed a plucky Korea 5-0 to begin the defence of their World Cup title in style while two-time champions Germany beat reigning Asian Games champions Japan 3-0.

The Koreans did not allow Belgium to open the scoring till half time but the World and Olympic champion European side struck two and three goals in the third and fourth quarters respectively to eventually notch up a convincing win in a Pool B match at the Kalinga stadium.

Five different players scored for world number two Belgium with three strikes from open play. Hendrickx Alexander opened account for Belgium in the first minute of the third quarter before Cosyns Tanguy struck a field goal in the 42nd minute.

The Korean resistance broke down after that and Belgium were rampaging in the final quarter with goals from Van Aubel Florent (49th, penalty corner), Dockier Sebastien (51st, field goal) and De Sloover Arthur (57th, field goal).

In the second Pool B match played at Kalinga stadium, no goal was scored till the half time. Grambusch Mats gave the lead to world number four Germans in the 35th minute through a penalty corner conversion before Ruhr Christopher struck a field goal five minutes later.

Prinz Thies (48th minute) then sealed the issue with a field effort in the final quarter as world number 16 Japan failed to score a goal.