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FIH Pro League: Belgium records its first home win

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FIH Pro League: Belgium records its first home win
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FIH Pro League: Belgium records its first home win FIH Pro League: Gerniers hits hat-trick as  Red Panthers of Belgium mark home debut with triumph over China A triumph at home is of special significance as it provides the home crowd a lot to cheer about performance of its favourites. Belgium women continued their sparkling form in the FIH Pro League with yet another victory over higher-ranked opposition, powering to a 4-1 win against China as the Royal Uccle Sports Complex in Brussels that played host to the Red Panthers’ first home match in the competition.
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Also Read:FIH Pro League: Australia men and New Zealand women triumph on Oceania Derby Day in Sydney FIH Pro League FIH Pro League: Belgium records its first home win An enthused crowd watched with joy as Alix Gerniers hit a hat-trick to ensure that Belgium marked its FIH Pro League home debut in winning fashion. It was Belgium's third victory in five matches - four of which have been on the road - for the team coached by Niels Thijssen, as the ever-improving Europeans moved ahead of Australia into third position in the standings. Belgium has claimed 66.67 percent of the points available in its five matches played to date, with defeat for China leaving it second from bottom of the standings with 25.93 percent. Despite being the lowest ranked team in the competition, Belgium (FIH World Ranking: 13) has already provided plenty of evidence in this inaugural edition of the FIH Pro League that it is a force to be reckoned with. Following a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Argentina in Cordoba in its opening fixture, the Red Panthers snatched wins in both New Zealand (1-0) and Australia (2-1) in February before recently suffering a slight set-back in its narrow shoot-out defeat against USA in Lancaster. Belgium’s match day opponent China (WR:10) has proven to be stubborn opponents in all of its eight FIH Pro League matches leading up to today's fixture, with notable home wins over Germany (2-1) and New Zealand (1-0) being coupled with two strong showings against current league leaders Argentina, with Las Leonas winning 1-0 both home and away. Also Read: FIH Pro League: Spain men continue remarkable shoot-out record to claim bonus point against Germany The host nation found itself under pressure in the early stages of its FIH Pro League home debut, but soon found its rhythm and created the better of the chances in the first quarter. Ye Jiao, China’s world class goalkeeper, made excellent reaction saves to deny efforts from Emma Puvrez, Ambre Ballenghien and Emilie Sinia, while a Gu Bingfeng penalty corner drag-flick was expertly charged down by the Belgium defence.
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win FIH Pro League: Belgium records its first home win China’s resistance was eventually broken in the 22nd minute by Alix Gerniers, who crashed a backhand strike through the legs of Ye a moment after the lively Ballenghien rattled the frame of the goal with a penalty corner deflection. Whilst it was a lead that Belgium unquestionably deserved, the Red Panthers were perhaps a little fortunate to maintain their slender advantage going into half time. Peng Yang had the best chance in the latter stages of the second quarter, almost restoring parity with a clever diving deflection that travelled the wrong side of Belgium goalkeeper Aisling D’Hooghe’s left post. Belgium was absolutely brilliant in the third quarter, scoring three times without reply to open up a 4-0 advantage. Eighteen-year-old attacker Ballenghien scored her first FIH Pro League goal with a fine lifted finish over the onrushing Ye to make it 2-0, before Gerniers scored two angled penalty corner deflections to complete her hat-trick and all but seal a Belgian victory with one quarter still to play. China fought hard in the final quarter and reduced the deficit thanks to a smart backhand finish from Liang Meiyu, but it proved only a consolation as the Red Panthers continue to prove their quality at the highest possible level. Also Read: Olympic champions suffer yet another reverse “We prepared really well for the game and we knew that China would be a tough opponent”, said Player of the Match Alix Gerniers. “The staff did some good work and set us some options which we executed really well, and we scored our PCs , so it is nice, yes.” Regarding her hat-trick, Gerniers said: ‘I’ve never done it before, so it’s cool, but I think it’s teamwork. The PCs, we try to work on it and I try to do my job on it, and it worked so it’s nice for the team.” Result: Women’s Match 30 Belgium 4, China 1 Player of the Match: Alix Gerniers (BEL). - PTC NEWS-
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