Belgium lifts FIH Women Champions Challenge II Title: Hockey Recap
Belgium trounced Italy by a solitary goal, 2-1 in the finals to lift the title of the 2011 International Hockey Federation (FIH) Women Champions Challenge II that took place in Vienna, Austria.
The winning team did not lose the grip over the game at any occasion. However, they faced a number of strikes from the opposite side. The Belgium women opened the game quite maturely and established their dominance from the very start of the game. Erica
Coppey scored the first goal of the game in the 14th minute of the match to put Belgium ahead on the score-board. It was the only offence from the two sides in the first half of play.
The speed of the game slowed down in the second half of play, as the both teams started defensive style of play. In the later time, the Belgium team earned a short-corner that was attempted by Charlotte De Vos. She executed a powerful drag-flick to double
the tally at 2-0. Belgium dominated the field with the ball possession and constant attacking throughout the two halves. They received a couple of yellow-cards before suspension of match due to a heavy shower.
In the 63rd minute of the game, the Italian team earned another short corner and tested this time Alessia Padalino. She unleashed a low-flying shot at the Belgium goal with giving opponent no chance to stop the ball. With the first goal from Italy,
the lead decreased their deficit to a single goal, but it was the last successful effort from either side. In the waning minutes, the two sides were playing a very fast game, as one wanted to hold back the lead, while other wanted to make an equaliser. However,
all the h**l broke out lose with the final whistle and Belgium won the game and lifted the title of the 2011 FIH Women Champions Challenge II. Belgium also got promotion and moved into the Champions Challenge I.
Charlotte de Vos of Belgium was selected as Best Player of the tournament, while Roberta Lilliu earned the Best Goal-keeper award. Yuliya Mikheichyk of Belarus was top scorer of the event.
In the third place playoff game, Belarus took Chile down by two goals, 5-3. The game was decided on a shoot-out round, as the score was level at 2-2 after the regulation time-period. Chile managed the lead, 2-1 at the halftime but to no avail. The Belarus
girls made the score level with three minutes left on the clock.
The two teams failed to get a golden goal in the extra-time period despite lot of attacks and counter-attacks. In the shoot-outs, Belarus overwhelmed Chile by two goals, 3-1, as a result they won the game, and as well the bronze medal. It was the first-ever
penalty shoot-outs, instead of the penalty strokes.
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