Olympic silver medallist Belgium thrashed South Africa 5-1 but finished second to India, who beat Canada by the same goal margin, in Pool C of the Hockey World Cup in Bhuvneshwar on Saturday.
Both India and Belgium finished on seven points after winning two and drawing against each other. But India had a greater goal difference and hence they topped the group helping them directly qualify to the quarters.
Belgium and Canada, on the other, still remained in the hunt for the last eight but will have to go through the cross-over stage while South Africa crashed out after finishing at the bottom place.
South Africa started well and scored just 36 seconds into the encounter through Nicholas Spooner but it was all Belgium from there as the World No.3 ran riot netting the equaliser 14 minutes later.
By the time the first half ended, Belgium had already scored four with Alexander Hendrickx (14th minute and 22nd) netting a brace while Simon Gougnard (18th) and Loick Luypaert (30th) scoring the goals.
Cedric Charlier then added a fifth to complete the victory with 12 minutes left to play.
Also read: Hockey World Cup: India thrash Canada 5-1 to reach quarterfinals