Belgium’s women were forced to battle from behind but produced a devastating final quarter to trounce the young England team 8-2 in Hangzhou, China on Thursday, so reversing the result of their previous encounter three days earlier.
(Women’s) England 2 – 8 Belgium
Belgium were dominant throughout but they had to fight back from two goals down with eight unanswered goals for their 8-2 win over England.
The teams traded early blows with Belgium creating a half chance, England breaking out to earn a penalty corner, and Belgium firing one wide all within the opening four minutes. Belgium went on to control play throughout as England again conceded too many soft turnovers, and Olivia Hamilton had to make a desperate goal-line save in the sixth minute after her own overhead across the English goal was intercepted by Astrid Bonami. It was, however, England who snatched the lead in the 15th minute, Megan Crowson slamming a penalty corner rebound home after the first wave ran down her initial shot.
The Belgians again bossed the second quarter and created numerous opportunities without much reward. England took full advantage of their only real possession in the 23rd minute and Millie Giglio launched a scorching drag flick to double their lead. The English then found themselves under continued pressure as the clock ticked down on the half, and Vanessa Blockmans finally found the net for Belgium with a penalty corner slap in the 29th minute.
The Red Panthers carried their momentum into the third quarter and Justine Rasir levelled matters in the 32nd minute, slamming a penalty corner rebound into the net. Belgium continued to have tremendous success with their press and it was this pressure that gifted Stephanie Vanden Borre a 41st-minute drag flick to launch Belgium into the lead. Astrid Bonami then made it 4-2 with a penalty corner rebound as the third period ended, setting a platform for a devastating finish.
The Belgians kept England under pressure through the fourth quarter and ran rampant at the death. Lisa Moors grabbed their fifth goal, having all the time in the world with her 52nd-minute reverse stick finish from the top of the circle. Charlotte Englebert added a penalty corner rebound in the 57th minute, Vanden Borre bagged a penalty corner slap a minute later, and Englebert had the final say with a stroke in the 59th.
Stephanie Vanden Borre of Belgium was named the Player of the Match and said: “I think we didn’t have the best start so it’s nice to end this way, and I think it was the best game that we’ve played here. I think we can learn to play four games at our high level, I think we need to work on that.”
Current Hero Top Scorers:
Women – Vanessa Blockmans (3 goals)
Men –Tom Boon (BEL) (3 goals)
To see the current standings in the FIH Hockey Pro League, click here.
FIH Hockey Pro League – 5 December 2024
Gongshu Canal Sports Park Hockey Stadium, Hangzhou (CHN)
WOMEN
Result: Match 6 (W)
England 2 – 8 Belgium
Player of the match: Stephanie Vanden Borre (BEL)
Umpires: Cookie Tan (SGP), Rama Potnis (IND), Lim Hong-Zhen (SGP-video)
