Belgium through to the finals in a penalty shoot-out

In a much disciplined performance by both sides, Belgium beat Argentina 5-4 (2-2 full time score) on a penalty shoot-out in the first semi-final of Champions Challenge, Johannesburg.
David Van Rysselberghe, the goalkeeper for Belgium, even after a hurt shoulder, saved 2 shoot-outs to take Belgium into the finals of the tournament.

For Argentina, the goals were scored by Pedro Ibarra (24th minute), Agustin Alejandro Mazzilli (32th minute), Lucas Cammareri (penalties) and Manuel Brunet (penalties).

For Belgium, the goals came from Jeffrey Thys(33rd minute), Ven Aubel (49th minute), Simon Gougnard (penalties), Thomas Briels (penalties) and Jerome Dekeyser (stroke during the penalties).
The game started at a slow pace, with Belgium controlling the game by playing small passes and making calculated and precise moves.

Argentines maintained a resilient front and apart from two misses by Salis (7th min) and Rofrigo Nicolas (9th minute), didn’t attempt a concrete, whole-hearted move.

In the 24th min, Rossi picked up a loose ball and rushed into Belgian circle. A rough tackle got Argentina a penalty stroke. Ibarra converted the stroke taking up Argentina 1-0.
In the 33rd min, Mazzilli scored a stunner beating four defenders around him in the Belgian circle and scoring on a reverse hit. Argentines went up 2-0.

Belgium did get the reward for their persistent wandering around the Argentine circle in form of the penalty corner in the 18th minute. However, a brilliant charge-in by Argentine Brunet deflected the flick from the Belgians wasting their first penalty corner. Another penalty corner in the 34th minute also yielded the same result.

Post the lemon break, Belgians continued with their efforts and always kept the Argentine defense on their toes. Their efforts paid them back in the 49th minute. A hit from the top of circle by Tom Boon set-up Ven Aubel standing on the goal-line; Aubel’s deflection brought back a persistent Belgium into the game making the score 2-2.

Belgium came very close to scoring in the 56th min but a brilliant save by Argentine goal-keeper Vivaldi denied them a sure-short goal.

Argentina did get three penalty corners, one in each half – in the 27th minute and 53rd minute – and another one in the extra time with two minutes to spare. None of them looked threatening and were countered convincingly by Belgium.

An evenly contested game deservingly entered the extra time. Here also, the game remained poised, Belgium pushing the Argentine defense against the wall with Argentina relying only on counter-attacks. With no golden goals, the game went into the penalty shoot-out, i.e. goalkeeper v charger running down from 25-yard line with a time limitation of eight seconds.
Belgium scored three penalty shoot-outs whereas Argentines scored only two, thereby proceeding to the finals of Champions Challenge ’11.

For Belgium, Van Aubel and John Dohmen missed scoring in the penalty shoot-out. For Argentina, Ibarra, Lucas Rey, Lucas Vila, missed out. On the last shoot-out for Belgium, a penalty stroke was awarded to Belgium. Jerome Dekeyser didn’t commit any error taking Belgium into the finals of the event.

Belgium will meet the winners of the upcoming second semi-final between India v South Africa.