Belgium dominate South Africa to register big win
FIVE STAR Hendrickx scores a brace as world No. 3 side puts up a gallant show in its last Pool C game BHUBANESWAR:
Entering the Kalinga Stadium here on Saturday, Belgium knew they had to win, and win big to have any chance of qualifying directly for the hockey World Cup quarterfinals.
The world No 3 team needed four goals or more to make India work for their last-8 spot. And they did exactly that as they came out all guns blazing to dominate the entire contest and thrash South Africa 5-1, making them top the Pool C standings, at least for the time being.
India will only need to win against Canada, irrespective of the goal difference, to get a direct last-8 entry. A loss or a draw for the hosts would mean Belgium will top the group while the second and third placed teams enter the crossovers with the fourth place outfit knocked out.
Apart from a minor blip in the first minute, Belgium showed their class to stamp their authority over South Africa.
Nicholas Spooner left the Belgians stunned as he scored the fastest goal of the 14th edition of the World Cup in only 36 seconds.
The Rio Olympics silver medallists, however, did not lose heart and knew the game had only begun.
They took charge of the contest, piling up attack after attack on the South African defence, soon resulting in a series of penalty corners, the first of which was converted in the 14th minute.
Alexander Hendrickx levelled the scoreline when his powerful grounded drag-flick easily entered the South African goal.
Three minutes into the second quarter and Simon Gougnard made it 2-1 for the European outfit before Hendrickx increased the lead to 3-1 in the 22nd minute with another straight flick which touched South Africa goalkeeper Rassie Pieterse’s foot but still went in.
Belgium got another penalty corner at the stroke of half-time and this time it was Loick Luypaert, who converted a variation to put Belgium 4-1 ahead.
Looking down and almost out of the tournament, world No.15 South Africa stepped out with much more zest as they gave the Belgians a tough fight in the third quarter.
A resolute South Africa made sure the Red Lions did not increase the lead in the third period and the scoreline stayed. But into the fourth and final quarter, Cedric Charlier scored a beauty of a field goal to totally outplay the South African defenders and score in the 48th minute.
The Red Lions tried for more goals but failed in their attempts.
Belgium now top Pool C with seven points and will advance to the quarter-finals directly if India draw or lose to Canada in the next game.
“Scoring more goals was not our target. Our target was to grow in the tournament, take some steps ahead. It was never easy to score five-six goals against a team in a tournament like World Cup. South Africa are not an easy team and winning with the margin will help us in our next matches,” said Charlier.
“It always adds to the confidence in scoring from penalty corners and scoring open field goals. There are areas where we need to take steps to go far in the tournament. It is a challenge and we will work on it.”
BHUBANESWAR