Published on 05/21/2022 at 23:18
Reading time: 2 minutes

LThe Red Lions won 5-1 (first half: 3-0) their second Hockey Pro League duel of the weekend against Spain (FIH-9) on Saturday at Wilrijkseplein in Antwerp. Tom Boon, hat-trick writer, is the great architect of this N.2 world success. When competition resumed on Friday, the Olympic and world champions shared a 3-3 challenge, then bagged bonus points for the shootout (3-2). With 15 points in 8 matches, they move up to 5th in the standings, just behind the Netherlands.

With the same core as Friday, with Loic Van Doren substituted for Vincent Vanasch in goal, Belgium’s dominance was quickly turned into a goal through William Ghislain’s cross which was taken over by Tom Boon (7th). On the Belgian 2nd pc, Nelson Onana managed a superb rebound that the Red Sticks goalkeeper got to double this lead with a backhand and score his first international goal (15th).

Meanwhile, Van Doren was having a quiet night, only having to intervene on 2 opponents. Boon would then take care of his stats, proving his current good form. The top scorer in the Belgian championship scored a brilliant goal just before half-time, deflecting the ball, back into goal, between his legs to trick Adrian Rafi (27th).

The man from Brussels closed the game after the break, emphasizing a good individual achievement (35th). Spain saved their honor on a counter-attack punctuated by Ignacio Rodriguez (48), before Tanguy Cosyns, well served by Boon, improved the score late in the game (57).

Belgium now have 15 points in 8 games, 1 point less than the Netherlands (16), who have 2 games fewer. Ahead of them, India leads the dance with 27 units in 12 games, ahead of Argentina (24) and Germany (23).

Michel van den Heuvel’s men will continue the competition in the coming weeks by meeting France, South Africa, India and England.