S2H Team

Belgium’s men’s and women’s teams treated their fans to a day of victories in the first of the FIH Pro League doubleheader at the Royal Uccle Sport stadium in Brussels on Saturday, October 16.

The Red Lions, in action for the first time since clinching the Olympic gold at Tokyo 2020 drubbed Germany 6-1 to send a sellout crowd into raptures after their women’s team, the Red Panthers, put it across the visitors 1-0.

The teams meet in the second match on Sunday.

In recent times, Germany have been handed many a tennis score hiding by Belgium. Today, however, the margin of victory or defeat may be a little misleading in a match played at a terrific pace and replete with skill.

Sebastien Dockier shot the World Cup and Olympic champions ahead in the 19^th minute from open play. Another field goal by Cedric Charlier five minutes later put Belgium in the driver’s seat.

William Ghislain fired home a third for the Red Lions two minutes into the second half and another field goal by Nicolas de Kerpel on 50 minutes with a lob over goalkeeper Alexnder Stadler ended the match as a contest.

Mario Schachner pulled one back for Germany in the 54^th minute, also from open play, but Belgium were far from finished and had the final say with two strikes as the minutes ticked away.

Kerpel scored his brace in the 58^th minute and, with one minute to go, the evergreen John-John Dohmen rounded off with a penalty corner deflection.

Belgium were presented with the trophy for the 2020-21 season before the match. The now-retired Thomas Briels stepped up to receive it much to the appreciation of home fans.

“We are very happy to be back here in Belgium playing in front of our home crowd”, said Belgium’s Arthur de Sloover who was named Player of the Match. “It was the first game after the Olympics and we really wanted to show them that we still want to win every game, so we are very happy with the performance today.”

Germany goalkeeper Alexander Stadler said: “We played with a mixed team, players who were at the Olympics and some new players. We gave it a great team effort and it was a great experience. In the first half we were a bit unlucky with the two goals. In the second half we made too many mistakes in dangerous areas and they took their counters, while we didn’t’ take our chances on the counters, which was the difference today.”

Belgium’s women’s team stole the match with a splendid penalty corner drag-flick from Ambre Ballenghien just seven minutes from time in a match delayed by 90 minutes because of technical issues. The win followed an opening match defeat to world No. 1 The Netherlands in Amsterdam on October 13 and would have done much for Belgium’s morale.

Germany had their chances but Belgium merited victory and another taut battle is expected on Sunday.

“I think we had a lot of occasions to score and to finally put it in, it was a delivery for all the team,” said Ballenghien who was named Player of the Match. “I think we really deserved the win as today we were the better team on the field, so we are very happy with the win.”

FACTFILE

FIH Hockey Pro League
Saturday 16 October 2021 – Brussels (BEL)

Women
Belgium 1, Germany 0 [Match 1 of 2]
Player of the Match: Ambre Ballenghien (BEL)
Umpires: Hannah Harrison (ENG), Alison Keogh (IRL) and Dan Barstow (ENG – Video)

Men
Belgium 6, Germany 1 [Match 1 of 2]
Player of the Match: Arthur de Sloover (BEL)
Umpires: Dan Barstow (ENG), Jonas van ‘t Hek (NED) and Hannah Harrison (ENG – Video)