The 18-year-old phenomenon Emily White’s second minute goal saw Belgium advance to the women’s EuroHockey Championship final for just the second time.
It was all that stood between them and Germany on a night of high emotion at the SparkassenPark with the hosts doing everything but draw level in a seriously intense contest.
Alix Gerniers created the goal with an incredible pass through the middle up to White who drove to the left and chipped a reverse-stick shot over Julia Sonntag.
They had the best of the first quarter but Germany somehow just missed out on an equaliser when the ball managed to wriggle off Charlotte Stapenhorst’s stick with the goal beckoning.
The Red Panthers sat in wait in deep defence and their counters were dangerous, limiting chances and working strong overloads.
As time wore on, Germany started to produce more and more chances of their own. The pick of them was forged by Stapenhorst whose powerful run ended with a wicked backhand shot which clattered the inside of the post but stayed out of the goal.
Belgium held on for a famous win and a shot at a first title when they meet the Netherlands on Saturday.
Reflecting on the win, White said: “It’s amazing, a great team performance as well. It helps we scored in the second minute so the rest of the game was a little bit more relaxed. We had some good actions and so maybe put a few more away in the first quarter but generally very happy.
“We focused on being a block defensively and have few opportunities at goal and then going out on counter-attacks.”
As for the challenge of facing the Dutch in the final – a side whom they lost 2-0 to in the group – she added: “Pool games and finals are very different things so we will try and defend as well as we can and then score a few goals. It is exactly the scenario we wanted and we go out to enjoy the final!”
