Hockey World Cup: The Red Lions beat New Zealand and advance to the Final Four (2-0, videos)

IBelgium (FIH 2), thanks to a first-class first half, validated their ticket for the last four match of the World Cup by defeating New Zealand (FIH 11) 2-0 on home field at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday in India. Calm from start to finish, the world champions will face Holland or South Korea on Friday, who will face each other on Wednesday.

From the very first moments, Belgium was the first to step forward. Biting into recovery, the national team hit the mark from the first computer acquired. Despite Alex Hendrickx’s absence, Tom Boon made his strength do the talking, scoring his sixth goal of the tournament (1-0, 11). Simon Gougnard also inherited a shot window just before the siren but the midfielder failed to outwit the Kiwi goalkeeper (15th).

Gougnard did not wait long to be forgiven. In a breakthrough with his secret, he focused on Florent van Opel, whose recovery reached the mark (2-0, 16th). After a great team movement between Felix Denayer, Bonn and Van Opel, whose shot was saved by the goalkeeper, Belgium forced a new computer. But neither Lock Luypaert nor John-John Dohmen found the target on the rebound (25). On the first PC earned by the Black Sticks, Vincent Vanash made a save, his first, to let his people back into the locker room with a two-goal lead (29).

Perhaps the New Zealand national team was tired of its victory at the end of the exciting match on Sunday night against India (3-3, 5-5), and the New Zealanders continued to suffer at the beginning of the second half. After a very central Boon PC (36th), Belgium had their first hollow moment of the match, relying on the “wall” to fend off an opposition attempt (43rd). Brilliantly found by Denayer, Cédric Charlier failed to make the break (45).

Not giving up, New Zealand inherited first PC in the final quarter and almost hit the mark in the group (46th). Then Michel van den Heuvel’s forces used their experience to perfect the final minutes and punch their folding seat in the last four minutes.

First in their group thanks to victories against South Korea (5-0) and Japan (7-1) as well as a draw against Germany (2-2), Michel van den Heeuvel’s team on Tuesday lost its deputy-designate Alexander Hendricks, injured. at the knee and replaced by Maxime Van Oost.

The Red Lions, in search of the second crown, will face Friday (2:30 pm the Belgian) the winner of the duel between the Netherlands and South Korea, falling to the general surprise of Argentina on Monday after a match rich in volatility (5). -5, 3-2 so).