Belgium: D’Hooghe; Hillewaert, Puvrez, Duquesne, Brewer; Vandermeiren, Struijk, Nelen; Ballenghien, Englebert, Bonami, then Raye, Limauge, Rasir, Versavel, Marien, Breyne, Sotgiu
Spain: Calvo, Jimenez, Lopez, Iglesias, M. Garcia, Mejias, Ycart, B. Garcia, Gine, Perez, Oliva, then L. Barrios, S. Barrios, Pampin, Badia, Strappato, Alvarez, M. Garcia.
Referees: I. Makar (Cro) and S. Wilson (Eco)
Green Card: 16th Marien
Goals: 20th Marien (1-0), 27th Ballenghien on stroke (2-0), 56th Raye (3-0)
Penalty corner: Belgium (0/1) and Spain (0/6) The Belgians continued their FIH Pro League campaign in Antwerp early Saturday evening against Spain. The Red Panthers returned to the field of Olympia in Antwerp with the lessons of the meeting on Friday evening against the same opponent. Very quickly, we felt that the Belgians were in a better rhythm. Raoul Ehren had made two changes to his core. Alix Gerniers were left to rest as a precaution. France De Mot was also in the stands and replaced by Astrid Bonami (Orée). Delphine Marien was the other reinforcement of the day. The coach had also swapped the quarterbacks of the goalkeepers.
Bonami started on the pitch, but made his rotation after one minute and 21 seconds. Struijk was the first to intercept a ball and launch an interesting counter. Ballenghien was stopped at the entrance to the circle. The Spaniards were playing at a different level than on Saturday. Jimenez did not take advantage of a poor clearance. His shot grazed D’Hooghe’s post. In the 9th minute, a breakthrough from Vandermeiren ended with a shot on target in the circle. Versavel rushed into his shot and attempted a backhand shot that was too crossed. The Panthers were gaining strength and recovering more and more ball despite a Spanish domination. Englebert pushed his ball a bit too far into the circle. Struijk gave himself a moment of glory by slaloming between three Spaniards. Then, by quickly playing a fault which offered him a first pc in the 13th minute. Ballenghien’s ball crossed the line, but was off target. This first quarter had been pleasant to follow with good movements despite the absence of real opportunities.
Spain, which forced Belgium back into its circle at the start of the second quarter, got its first pc. In the 20th minute, Rasir went against on the left flank, infiltrated the circle and centered on Delphine Marien whose deviation shook the nets of Calvo (0-1). His first goal in Red Panthers. Jimenez was effective by quickly playing a foul that forced the Belgian defense to concede a first pc in the 22nd minute. Brasseur took the first sleep in the face. On the second, it was Duquesne who saved the bet on the line. The match then got carried away. Versavel was close to an interesting shot. Raye crashed into the keeper. On a counter right side, Rasir perfectly served her friend Englebert who got a pc. The video transformed the pc into a stroke. Ballenghien was responsible for converting him (2-0). Englebert and Struijk spun in one-two with 10 seconds remaining in the first half.
After the break, the Reds kept the right course by controlling the Spanish accelerations quite easily. They played too low, but they won more duels. Rasir, her again, and Nelen went all the way up the field to serve Raye who sent the ball wide of the goal. Raye, Ballenghien and Englebert found themselves in the circle. This third quarter was more Belgian than expected. The Spanish reaction still did not come. In the 45th minute, Spain got a pc for a dangerous deflection. The video canceled it.
The last quarter was animated by this breakthrough from Englebert which isolated Versavel who framed a shot from a tight angle. On the rebound, Versavel found Englebert’s foot. Struijk was again present on a shot in the 50th minute. This last quarter was 100% black-yellow-red. Struijk and Rasir were untenable. The Belgians were enjoying themselves. Just like the fans. When the defense had passed in the 55th minute, Sotgiu dived to keep the zero. In the process, Nelen launched Englebert who infiltrated on the baseline before finding the stick from Raye (3-0). The last Spanish pc was dangerous for the Belgian counter, but Raye lacked his control in the circle.
The Reds have been solid through and through. A match that will make history.
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