New Delhi: Riding on a stunning performance by goalkeeper George Pinner unbeaten England romped into the semifianls with a cheeky win and put paid to the hopes of Belgium who suffered another defeat despite putting up a good fight in the Hero World Hockey League at the Major Dhyan Chand Stadium here on Wednesday.

The narrow 1-0 victory came after both the teams played defensive hockey for better part of the match.

England began on an aggressive note and in the very 5th minute Tom Carson drove into the goal, cricket style, after the spade work by Simon Mantell but the goal failed to stand the test of a referral by Belgium which provided them a life line. However, the Red Lions failed to utilise their chances despite wonderful support in the defence by Loick Luypaert and Elliot van Strydonck.

England custodian George was at his best today standing between Simon Gougnard and the goal in the 17th minute and then his quick reflex action denied a chance for Jeffry Thys. He also stood like a rock during the three successive short corners Belgium earned in the last two minutes before the cross-over and immediately after the break.

England too suffered hiccups in the frontline with a dummy variation during set-piece drill going haywire to bad stops and weak pushes not helping either. The match which saw tight man-to-man marking by both teams put a lot of pressure on the strikers and England who managed to convert their third short corner. England press hard and earned two successive corners in the 45th minute but Belgium keeper Vincent Vanash was up to the mark. However, in the very next minute Gouthier Boccard brought down an English player and received an Yellow card suspension and the resultant penalty corner converted by Tom Carsen turned out to be the match winner.

Later on with both the teams trying for a goal, the match turned into a rough encounter with Tom Carsten and Ian Lewers getting yellow cards. But Belgium failed to utilize the short corner. With time running out England fell back and defended in numbers and a desperate Belgium coach Marc Lammers withdrew his goalkeeper out of the field and sent all the 11 players into attack for the elusive equalizer. England held on for their semfinals berth.

Belgium will play off for 5th-8th place on Friday after a day of rest on Thursday.

Ends