Thursday, August 20 – Wavre, Belgium: The Ireland Women’s Hockey Team suffered a 2-1 defeat to hosts and World #3 Belgium in their final FIH Hockey World Cup Pool C match. Ireland led in the opening quarter thanks to a Charlotte Beggs goal and could have had a second having been initially awarded a penalty stroke in the second quarter, but it was controversially overturned. Ireland maintained their lead until the final quarter, but Belgium’s pressure eventually gave way as the Red Panthers scored twice in the final eleven minutes to secure the win they needed to top Pool C. The result means Ireland will now move to Pool H where they will face Scotland and the USA to determine which final ranking match they will play in.
Knowing that a top-two finish was still up for grabs should they beat the hosts, Ireland made an intense start to the tie, matching Belgium’s energy across the pitch to unsettle their opposition. Belgium eventually settled and put the Irish defensive unit under some pressure, but Ireland kept them at bay eventually launching a counterattack and winning a penalty corner of their own.
From the initial effort Ireland found the back of the net, but a foul in the buildup resulted in a re-award. Unshaken by the disallowed goal, Ireland stepped up again. Hannah McLoughlin’s slap at goal rebounded up in the direction of Charlotte Beggs on the back post, Beggs graciously volleying the ball into the back of the net to give Ireland the lead.
Belgium regained momentum in quarter 2 forcing goalkeeper Lizzy Murphy into a world class save early on. Ireland, though, continued to be efficient in the limited attacking opportunities they had. Niamh Carey won Ireland their fourth penalty corner of the tie, which saw Ireland work the ball back to Beggs and across the face of goal. Katie Mullan’s deflection goalward hit a Belgian player on the line, and Ireland were awarded a penalty stroke, but the decision was controversially overturned.
Lizzy Murphy was needed throughout quarter three to make a number of smart saves and clearances, and pressure from Belgium built. The Belgian support thought they had found their breakthrough with three minutes remaining in Q3, but the ball flashed past the back post.
Belgium finally found their equaliser, much to their relief, as Charlotte Englebert found some space in the circle to strike into the bottom corner. With two minutes to play Ireland withdrew Murphy as one last roll of the dice, but a late Belgium attack sealed the result in the hosts favor as Ambre Ballenghien touch it in at the back post to secure top spot in Pool C for her side.
Speaking afte the game, Ireland captain Sarah Hawkshaw said:
“You get sick of saying we are that close when we are recording 2-1 scorelines against top 3 teams in the world. Incredibly proud for the fight that we showed, I don’t think there were many people in this stadium who thought we could have a chance against this team and we showed how relentless we are.”
Discussing the overturned penalty stroke, Hawkshaw said:
“These decisions go your way, and don’t go your way. Another day they say that the momentum of the ball is going towards the goal, but today they said it wasn’t. We can’t put it down to that, but it is those small moments that make the difference.”
The result sees Ireland take on Scotland and the USA in their Pool H outings ahead of their final ranking match.
Ireland take on Scotland on Saturday, August 22 at 10:30 Irish Time, before taking on the USA on Monday, August 24.
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