Pool B:
Belgium – Netherlands 4-5 (0-3 halftime)

The Netherlands and Belgium are familiar foes back home on European soil, but today they found themselves half a world away in a wild west shootout as the Dutch hung on for a 5-4 win against Champions Trophy newcomer Belgium. The game was normal enough until a 15-minute span late in the first half and at the start of the second half that saw seven combined goals scored.

It was clear from the first whistle that the Dutch were on a mission to keep their hopes to win Pool B as they dominated the action throughout the first half. But they had to be patient with their attack and wait out Belgium before getting on the scoreboard.

The patience paid off with 10 minutes left in the half when the Dutch fired in three goals to completely change the face of the game in the blink of an eye.  Jeroen Herzberger easily flicked in a penalty corner in the 25^th minute. Quirijn Caspers doubled the lead four minutes later and Tim Jenniskins struck with another penalty corner after time expired for the convincing 3-0 lead at the break.

Tom Boon woke up the Belgians in the second half, netting two goals in the first four minutes to cut into the Dutch lead. Boon’s first goal came on the first trip down field just 30 seconds into action and followed up with a penalty corner goal three minutes later to change the face of the game.

The Netherlands replied in kind when Gauthier Boccard scored the quick 4-2 goal, but again Belgium had the answer with yet another penalty corner goal, this one coming from Alexander Hendrickx. In total, four goals were scored in the first six minutes of the half. The teams exhcnaged goals in the last two minutes of the games. The Dutch scored on a penatly stroke from Valentin Verga and Belgium replied with a penatly corner just as time expired to bring the final to 5-4.

The win keeps the Netherlands in the hunt for first place in Pool B, while Belgium is still looking for its first-ever Champions Trophy point with three losses in three outings. The loss locks the Belgians into fourth place in Pool B. They will face the winner of Pool A in Thursday’s quarterfinal.