France Humiliates Australia with Late Goal Blitz in Chennai; Quarter-Final Race Intensifies
The FIH Junior World Cup in Chennai witnessed one of its most dramatic encounters on Saturday, as France staged a spectacular comeback to demolish Australia 8-3. What appeared to be a balanced contest turned into a nightmare for the Australians in the final quarter, significantly altering the complexion of the pool standings.
For the majority of the match, Australia seemed to be in control. Despite conceding an early goal to France's Victor Saint-Martin, the Aussies responded aggressively. Goals from Matthew Hawthorne, Patrick Andrew, and Ian Grobbelaar pushed Australia to a comfortable 3-1 lead. However, the French side refused to give up, with James Liddiard and Tom Gaillard finding the net to level the score at 3-3 just before the final break.
The fourth quarter saw a complete collapse of the Australian defence. In a desperate tactical gamble to regain the lead, Australia substituted their goalkeeper for an outfield player. This strategy backfired spectacularly. France ruthlessly exploited the open net, pouring in five unanswered goals in the final 15 minutes. Gaillard and Hugo Dolou both netted braces, while Gabriel Piole and Malo Martinache also joined the scoring spree. This heavy defeat leaves Australia with a minus-three goal difference, making their upcoming match against Korea a must-win situation to keep their slim quarter-final hopes alive.
Other Key Results
In other Pool F action, Bangladesh showcased grit by clawing back from a three-goal deficit to draw 3-3 with Korea, thanks to a hat-trick from Amirul Islam. Meanwhile, European heavyweights asserted their dominance in other pools. Spain secured a vital 2-0 win over Belgium, positioning themselves strongly for a quarter-final berth. The Netherlands also flexed their muscles with a crushing 6-0 victory over Malaysia to top Pool E. England kept their campaign on track by decimating Austria 13-0, driven by hat-tricks from Kaden Draysey and Henry Markham.
The Road to the Quarter-Finals
The format for this year's FIH Junior World Cup is unforgiving. Only the six pool toppers qualify directly for the last eight, with the remaining two spots going to the best second-placed teams. Currently, France, Germany, India, Argentina, Spain, and the Netherlands are leading their respective groups. With powerhouse teams like Australia and Belgium currently sitting in second place, fans can expect a tense finish to the group stages.
