Winners of Australia 5-4 on Saturday, this is their second straight win in a series of 8 games scheduled at the Wilrijkseplein by early July to conclude their 2022-23 Pro League campaign.
Sunday, the Belgian staff decided to rest several holders like Arthur Van Doren, Vincent Vanasch, Florent Van Aubel or Nicolas De Kerpel. In the 1st half, the Black Sticks resisted the high pressure exerted by the Olympic champions. Belgium nevertheless forged a one-goal advantage, scored by Tanguy Cosyns on the Belgian 1st CP (22nd, 1-0). Not finding the full game solution, Michel van den Heuvel’s men doubled their lead, on a new PC, transformed this time by Loïck Luypaert (34th, 2-0), at the start of the second period (the main sleeper Alexander Hendrickx is still unavailable). The New Zealanders, 12th in the world reacted, via the former player of Léopold Kane Russell, on the 1st CP kiwi (42nd, 2-1). Sébastien Dockier, assisted by Gauthier Boccard,
In the standings, after 10 games played and thanks to these 3 points, Belgium recovers 3 places and is in 4th place with 18 units. It concedes 14 units to Great Britain, leader with 32 points in 14 games. India follow with 30 units but have already played their 16 matches. Australia is only one point ahead of the Lions, before their reunion on Tuesday (8:40 p.m.), still in Antwerp.
by The Evening
