2024 Olympics – Hockey: Red Lions secure hard-fought win over New Zealand (2-1)
Defending their title from Tokyo 2021 therefore requires a mandatory victory against an opponent that is usually within their grasp. If they succeed, the Belgians will be in an excellent position to reach the quarter-finals.
In the first five minutes of the match, the Belgians had already created a great chance through Tom Boon. In the eighth, Antoine Kenna caused a computer glitch. Who else?Alexander Hendrix To convert (1-0). The Belgians won back many balls at several levels of the pitch and did not give the New Zealanders any rest. The first quarter was smooth.
From the start of the second quarter, the New Zealanders created their first real chance. Vincent Vanash was on show after a nice single from Phillips. Moments later, Finch was on show again with a good outing against a New Zealander. Despite the perfect start to the match, the Lions' second quarter was more chaotic.
National coach Michel's words certainly got the Lions back on track. After returning from the locker room, the Belgians created a double chance through Van Aubel and Charlier. The Red Lions then found their second computer in the game, as Alexander Hendrickx faced Dixon.
And with four minutes left in the third quarter, the New Zealanders claimed their first win of the game. A second save in the process was made by the inevitable Vannasch. The New Zealanders went back to the video, thinking that Wegnez had come off too early in the penalty phase. But the video proved the Belgians right… the New Zealanders lost the video and seconds later, the Lions' rivals came back to equalize with a great strike (1-1).
After a few moments, the magician Florent Van Aubel A brilliant five-star strike put the Belgians back in control (2-1). Shortly after, the New Zealanders created a team again, but it was poorly executed. In a two-sided third quarter, the Red Lions played well but the next 15 minutes would be decisive.
In the last quarter, Van Aubel continued to hurt the Kiwis with a computer. HEndrickx took charge of pulling the computer, but Dixon had the final say. The heat of the match continued as a minute later the Kiwis would also get a computer. With six minutes to go, Vincent Vanach made another save. With three minutes to go, the Kiwis tried to win by pulling their keeper Dixon out.
Then the Belgians dropped back and tried to keep the ball as long as possible. The Red Lions, with all their experience, no longer allowed the New Zealanders to get close to the circle.