Belgium outplays South Africa in the FIH Champions Challenge I by 2-1
South Africa displayed a wonderful game in the second half but still ended on the losing side in the last Pool B fixture of the FIH Champions Challenge I, that took place at the Randburg Hockey Stadium, in Johannesburg, South Africa, on November 29.
According to the match outcomes, South Africa is scheduled to take on Japan while Belgium will face Canada in the quarter-final round, set to be played on December 1.
The Belgian players created many breaks deliberately for passing the time that marred the game in a sense. Although, the referees started punishing them at the end, the scenario may have been changed had the umpires considered doing so early.
Belgium began the game at a frantic pace that served them in terms of an early goal. With three minutes into the match, Tom Boon converted a penalty corner, volleying a classic drag flicking shot right at the top of the cage.
It was the point that turned the game in favour of Belgium. They adopted further aggressive approaches, carrying out back to back attacks against the host team, South Africa.
In result of the first penetration into the Belgium circle, South Africa created its first short corner of the game. However, Justin Reid-Ross failed to avail the opportunity.
Following the footsteps of South Africa, Boon of Belgium also missed a penalty corner in the 22nd minute of the first half.
Within a few minutes, the African players received another penalty corner and, this time too, failed to convert it into a successful goal.
Conversely, the Belgian players managed to take the rebound into their favour, doubling the tally up to two goals.
Jerome Dekeyser drove the ball at the top of the circle, hitting a backhander that moved exactly into the cage. Despite a few more forays from the hosts, Belgium was leading the score after the first half by 2-0.
The African players showed signs of life in the second half but they were not enough to win the game.
After missing a short corner in the early minutes of the second round, Reid-Ross at last scored the solo goal for South Africa.
Both the squads played openly in the concluding minutes but Belgians were superior over their rivals and won the game by 2-1.
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