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Glorious homecoming for men’s Olympic champions Belgium

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A sell-out crowd witnessed Belgium’s women and men both claim FIH Hockey Pro League victories over the national teams of Germany on a jubilant day in Brussels, with fans flocking in their thousands to witness the teams in action for the first time since the Red Lions became Olympic champions at Tokyo 2020.

It was an occasion that more than lived up to the hype, with Belgium’s men storming to a sensational 6-1 triumph over Die Honamas in a match played at a searing pace and packed with skill.

The Red Lions win came shortly after the Red Panthers, Belgium’s national women’s team, claimed a narrow but deserved triumph over Die Danas. A wonderful penalty corner drag-flick from rising superstar Ambre Ballenghien late in the game settled the contest, helping the team to bounce back from Wednesday’s opening day defeat against the Netherlands in Amsterdam.

Live-wire striker Ballenghien – who forced Germany goalkeeper Noelle Rother into a stunning stick save early in the contest – sent a glorious flick into the top left corner of the net with seven minutes of the match remaining, delighting a passion-fuelled sell-out crowd at Brussels’ Royal Uccle Sport stadium in a match that had been delayed by 90 minutes due to technical issues. While Germany had some good chances of their own, Belgium were well worth the three points and will be looking to repeat the trick when the two teams do battle again on Sunday.

“I think we had a lot of occasions to score and to finally put it in, it was a delivery for all the team”, said Belgium’s match-winner Ballenghien, who was named Player of the Match. “I think we really deserved the win as today we were the better team on the field, so we are very happy with the win.”

Germany head coach Xavier Reckinger – who represented Belgium’s men on the international stage on 326 occasions – said: “I think we had a few chances, and the girls did exactly what we wanted to do. We had good chances to put them away, but they dominated, especially on their counter. I’m quite pleased with the performance from all the players, but we do have to improve some stuff. There were some things which, for me, are not good enough at the international level, but we’ll work on those and be ready for tomorrow.”

It was a special day for Belgium’s Louise Versavel, who played her 200th senior international match.

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The men’s match was an absolute thriller, with Germany’s inexperienced team very much taking the game to their illustrious opponents from the start. Die Honamas came closest to opening the scoring in the early stages when a wonderful deflection from Malte Hellwig clipped the outside of the Belgian post, with the teams going into the quarter-time break with the deadlock unbroken.

Belgium stepped up their game in the second quarter, establishing a 2-0 lead thanks field goals from Sebastien Dockier and Cedric Charlier before William Ghislain got in on the act in the third period, finishing off a superb team move to put Belgium – the reigning Olympic, World and FIH Hockey Pro League champions – into a lead that they never looked likely to lose.

Nicolas De Kerpel scored the goal of the game with a brilliant lob over Germany goalkeeper Alexander Stadler in the fourth quarter before Germany’s Mario Schachner reduced the deficit with six minutes remaining. However, a second for De Kerpel and a penalty corner deflection from ageless midfielder John-John Dohmen completed an emphatic score-line for the title holders, who were presented with the trophy for the 2020-21 season ahead of the contest. The tophy was received by retired attacker and former captain Thomas Briels, much to the delight of the home fans.

“We are very happy to be back here in Belgium playing in front of our home crowd”, said Belgium’s Arthur De Sloover, who was named Player of the Match. “It was the first game after the Olympics and we really wanted to show them that we still want to win every game, so we are very happy with the performance today.”

Germany goalkeeper Alexander Stadler said: “We played with a mixed team, players who were at the Olympics and some new players. We gave it a great team effort and it was a great experience. In the first half we were a bit unlucky with the two goals. In the second half we made too many mistakes in dangerous areas and they took their counters, while we didn’t’ take our chances on the counters, which was the difference today.”

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.