S2H Team

World Cup champions Belgium came away with a 3-2 win over a fighting Great Britain in a FIH Pro League men’s match at the Royal Uccle Sports Complex in Antwerp on Saturday.

Belgium continue to lead the nine-nation table while Britain continue to languish at the bottom.

The Great Britain women, however, had reason to rejoice drawing 1-1 against the hosts but picking up a bonus point after winning the shootout in a match played earlier.

Britain, the Olympic champions, are now at sixth place, one point clear of Belgium at seventh.

In the men’s encounter, Great Britain twice drew level but Belgium sealed three points in the dying moments.

Alexander Hendrickx shot the World Champions ahead with a  penalty corner drag-flick in the 27^th minute.

Phil Roper restored parity on the dot of halftime, also from the set-piece but with a stroke of luck.

Defender Victor Wegnez was still wearing his mask and the split second cost the Belgians dear as Roper’s essay went through to the boards.

The error didn’t prevent Wegnez from winning the player of the match award and the 24-year-old midfielder explained after the match that while adhering to regulations (part as Covid-19 prevention protocol) deeming players to not use masks except those of their own, he fell back on time by a fraction but took full responsibility for the lapse.

Tom Boon made it 2-1 in the third quarter but Britain back once again to equalize when Jack Waller got the faintest of touches and his first international after Alan Forsyth and James Gall pieced together a move.

Britain failed to take advantage of a yellow card to Stockbroekx in the fourth quarter and it was Belgium who stole full points a mere two minutes from the end when John John Dohmen, the veteran of 396 caps, scored after the goalkeeper gloved the ball against the crosspiece.

Britain will rue a conversion rate of 1/9 from penalty corners – an area they would have to work upon ahead of the second match on Sunday.

FACTFILE
FIH Hockey Pro League 
Saturday 31 October 2020 – Brussels (BEL)
Men’s result: Belgium 3, Great Britain 2 (Match 1 of 2)
Player of the Match: Victor Wegnez (BEL)
Umpires: Laurine Delforge (BEL), Coen van Bunge (NED) and Jonas van ‘t Hek (NED – video)

Women’s result: Belgium 1, Great Britain 1 [1-3 After shoot-out] (Match 1 of 2)
Player of the Match: Alix Gerniers (BEL)
Umpires: Jonas van ‘t Hek (NED), Celine Martin-Schmets (BEL) and Laurine Delforge (BEL – video)