Champions Trophy Hockey: England top Pool A, Argentina topple Germany

Bhubaneswar: England continued to enjoy their stay here in the capital of Odisha as they went on to top Pool A after a 1-1 draw with Belgium on Tuesday at the FIH Men's Champions Trophy.

Amaury Keusters was on the mark for the Belgians as early as the 9th minute and Iain Lewers scored soon into the fourth quarter (48th min) to equalise for the Englishmen, taking their points tally to seven compared to Belgium's five, who finished second as the two teams ended their league engagements.

Lewers actually saved the day for himself and England as he was guilty of missing a stroke just before half-time. Had he scored, England would have completed a hat-trick of wins. However, they still finished the pool stage undefeated.

England had won two games against Australia and Pakistan before Tuesday's draw.

Belgium too are yet to lose a game. They beat Pakistan and drew their other two matches against Australia earlier and England on Tuesday. They have secured a second spot as Australia with one point and Pakistan with zero will play the last game in Pool A in the evening session on Tuesday.

Day three began with another upset as giant-killers Argentina blanked Germany 3-0 to ensure themselves a top-two finish in Pool B.

Skipper Matias Paredes put the South Americans ahead in the 18th minute, with Joaquin Menini doubling the lead five minutes before half-time. Ignacio Ortiz's goal in the 49th minute made it 3-0.

The Germans never looked in the game as the Argentines kept them under pressure with regular raids throughout 60 minutes of play. The Europeans especially felt the absence of their No. 1 goalkeeper Nicolas Jacobi as he was rested and Felxi Reuss took his position in the post.

Netherlands, who are level with Argentina on six points, are currently top of Pool B and are likely to finish there unless romped by India in the last match on Tuesday to bring their goal different of +6 below that of Argentina's +2.

India, on the other hand, can go up a place to finish third in Pool B ahead of Germany if they upset the Dutch. All eight teams play the quarter-finals irrespective of the results in the round-robin stage.