FIH Pro League for women: Olympic Champions Great Britain move to 4th spot with wins against Belgium
FIH Hockey Pro League 2020: Olympic champions Great Britain completed almost a double. After a win in the penalty shootout in the first game, the visiting Great Britain overpowered the hosts Belgium 2-1 in a close game for its second win in its FIH Pro League (women) on Sunday.
Great Britain started feeling the victory, although Belgium almost snatched an equaliser at the death. Alexia T Serstevens got a touch in front of the British goal, but the chance went wide.
Three points for GB, making it five from a possible six against Belgium over the past two days.
With just two minutes to go, GB was doing its best to see the 2-1 result out, showing great composure in an attempt to secure maximum three points. The visitors made Belgium chase the game in the final moments.
Three points for Great Britain means that it has climbed up to fourth place in the FIH Hockey Pro League 2020 standings with 11 points, moving ahead of Australia. Belgium remain in the sixth position.
Also Read | FIH Pro League Women: Olympic champions Great Britain win in penalty shoot out against Belgium
In her post-match reaction, Belgium captain Barbara Nelen said: "I think we made a tactical mistake in quarter three and it cost us a goal, that is why we lost today. I think a draw would have been [a] fair [result]. We had big chances, and I think now it is the time to score them and of course we could win, but they finished [their chances] very well."
On her team's upcoming match against reigning World, European and FIH Hockey Pro League champions the Netherlands on Wednesday, Nelen said: "It's a new game, so a new start. Every game we aim to do well."
GB's Fiona Crackles, the Player of the match said: "I think we are a really resilient team. I think we've had four games in about a week, and we are feeling it in our legs, but it didn't really matter. We knew we had to leave nothing in the tank and keep grinding it out because we know that when it comes to the last quarter we can win. We just put everything into it."
Great Britain's Fiona Crackles was named Player of the Match.
Also Read | FIH Pro League (men): World champions Belgium win on the home turf against GB
It was in the 55th minute that Belgium was back to full strength, as GB had been dominating at the moment. The visitors carved out some good opportunities in the last few minutes, keeping Belgium goalkeeper Sotgiu very much on her toes.
With nine minutes to go, Belgium was reduced in numbers for two minutes as Duquesne was shown a green card.
Belgium had been pressing hard in these early stages of Q4, but GB broke ahead and almost added a third goal through Susannah Townsend, who cut inside her defender and took strike for goal from the left, forcing Sotgiu into a save. A few minutes later, Issy Petter had another big chance for GB, but failed to connect directly in front of goal after a pass from Sarah Robertson.
Great Britain took the all-important 2-1 lead into the final quarter thanks to a penalty corner conversion from Sarah Robertson! GB's first penalty corner was a bit of a mess, but it made no mistake with the re-award, with Anna Toman slapping to the left post for Robertson, who had injected the PC, to race in and guide the ball into the net on her reverse.
The second quarter was closely contested with Belgium finding an equaliser inside the opening 30 seconds of the period through the ever-reliable Barbara Nelen. It was a slick passing move down the right eventually being finished off by Barbara Nelen's close range volley.
Owsley's goal made the difference between the two teams in the first quarter. It wasn't the best quarter of hockey with few clear-cut chances, but GB took its opportunity when it came.
In the 14th minute, Great Britain scored with its first penalty corner of the game, with a slap from the top of the circle being deflected into the net by Lily Owsley. A well-worked routine and a tidy finish, although Belgium was perhaps guilty of not closing down the British players fast enough.
It was GB's fourth match in five days and still the tiredness did not catch up with visitors. GB's Sarah Robertson won her 150th cap in the game.
-PTC News
