FIH Pro League (men): Belgium scores a bonus point with 3-1 win in penalty shootout against the Netherlands
FIH Hockey Pro League (men) 2020: In a game of electrifying hockey, the defending World Cup and European champions Belgium won a bonus point with a 3-1 win in the penalty shootout after a 4-4 draw with the Netherlands in the FIH Pro League for men on Wednesday. Florent Van Aubel, who scored Belgium's third goal in the penalty shootout was named Player of the Match.
So Belgium took the bonus point from the shoot-out. It was a fantastic contest with some fabulous moments throughout.
Billy Bakker, captain of the Netherlands team, said in his post match comments: "It was a tough game for us. We were in front, not dominating the game but we were playing very well in these circumstances. They scored two good goals and we are happy that we could eventually make the 4-4. It was a pity that we lost on shoot-outs, but that's okay."
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Player of the Match Florent Van Aubel in his post match reaction said: "Battles against the Netherlands are always great battles. We have a nice history together and we knew it was going to be very tough. I think we provided a good show for the people at home."
It was a remarkable game that came to an end, with the score tied at 4-4. A fabulous advertisement for the sport. Both the teams took a point each. Belgium got the bonus for winning the shootout.
Just before the final whistle, there was a big chance for the Netherlands! Billy Bakker and Jeroen Hertzberger linked up, with the latter sending a ripping pass across the face of the Belgian goal, but Mirco Pruijser and Jelle Galema could not get the crucial touch.
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Those watching the game live really couldn't have asked for more in terms of excitement from this game. Both teams were chasing hard for a fifth goal, but as things stood out shoot-out was not only to break the tie but also decide for the bonus point.
Chaos! For the third time in this match, Belgium have conceded within a minute of scoring. Netherlands captain Billy Bakker raced through a goal and was cynically fouled by Arthur Van Doren, but Bakker fired home before umpire Coen van Bunge could blow his whistle to award what presumably would have been a penalty stroke. It was a brilliant finish from Bakker.
Belgium's Alexander Hendrickx slammed home in the 51stminute a penalty corner to put his team into a 4-3 lead.
Only a minute earlier, Belgium had equalised. A fine passing move got Florent Van Aubel with his back to goal, but he created a space before cracking a backhand shot that Netherlands keeper Visser touched but could not keep out.
Both teams came into the game on the back of double victories against Great Britain, with Belgium’s Red Lions recording 3-2 and 2-1 wins in Brussels a matter of days after the Oranje had beaten the Brits 1-0 and 3-1.
As the World and European champions, league leaders Belgium will start the contest as favourites, but Red Lions head coach Shane McLeod will be acutely aware of the threat posed by Max Caldas’s team. The Netherlands twice defeated Belgium in the 2019 edition of the competition, although the Lions did claim a 3-1 win in the semi-finals on the way to a second-place finish behind Australia.
First blood to Belgium came in the eighth minute. Alexander Hendrickx sent a low penalty corner underneath the body of Netherlands shot-stopper Maurits Visser.
In an immediate response from the Dutch! Less than 30 seconds after falling behind, Jeroen Hertzberger tapped in from close range after being supplied by a clever backhand pass from Jelle Galema. What a start to this game!
From trailing 1-0, the Dutch now lead 2-1. Thierry Brinkman showed brilliant reactions on two occasions, forcing a save from Loic van Doren with an instinctive backhand deflection before trapping and clinically dispatching the rebound.
A huge overhead pass picked out Belgium's Thibeau Stockbroekx on the left, who powered his way into the circle and just missed the target from a tight angle. It was a chance, but the narrow angle meant it was not the easiest. A minute later, Belgium used its video referral in an effort to win a penalty corner, but the appeal was rejected.
As they did earlier, the Dutch hit back immediately! Jip Janssen's penalty corner drag-flick proved too hot to handle and the Netherlands were back in front.
A sensational finish from Maxime Plennevaux had the two teams level at 2-2. The Netherlands blocked the first penalty corner effort but Arthur Van Doren crashed a backhand shot back towards the goal which rattled into the goalkeeper's pads, with Plennevaux producing an overhead smash to force home from close range. Incredible reactions. The Netherlands appealed to the video umpire, but after a lengthy review, the protest was rejected.
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