GB men went down 2-3 against reigning Olympic Champions Belgium in their last match of the first London mini tournament. Nick Bandurak (8′) and Tim Nurse (47′) scored a goal each for the home side, while Tanguy Cosyns (29′), Thibeau Stockbroekx (37′) and John-John Dohmen (47′) were the goal-getters for Belgium.
GB got off to a quick start and took the first shot in the very first minute of the match but couldn’t convert the opportunity. Belgium replied with a couple of circle penetrations of their own in the following minutes, but GB kept their opponents at bay and continued with the same attacking intent.
They were awarded a penalty stroke, which was duly converted by Nick Bandurak in the 8th minute. He calmly slotted the ball into the goal to help GB lead 1-0 at the end of the first quarter.
At the start of the second quarter the home side won back-to-back penalty corners but weren’t able to capitalise on the opportunities. Minutes later, Belgium also earned a penalty corner, but GB’s water-tight defence denied the visitors from equalising. It turned out to be a midfield battle in the following minutes as both teams’ cautious approach saw both teams failing to create spaces inside each other’s circles.
GB were pushed slightly to the backfoot as they conceded a penalty corner, and the visitors were successful in converting the opportunity. It was Cosyns who scored the equaliser through his fiery drag-flick in the 29th minute, thus ending the first half with the score tied 1-1.
Closing the second quarter at a 1-1 gridlock, Belgium then started to dominate proceedings and earned three penalty corners in quick succession, but GB’s solid defence was up to the mark denying visitors from taking the lead.
Belgium took advantage of the pressure which they had piled up from the start of the second half as Stockbroekx’s deflection in front of the goal helped visitors take a 2-1 lead in the 37th minute. GB also created couple of opportunities, but the Belgium defensive line averted the danger. James Mazarelo then came up with a stunning save as he denied Belgium from doubling the lead in the final seconds of the third quarter.
Belgium managed to double the lead through Dohmen in the 47th minute, but the hosts quickly pulled a goal back through Nurse’s stunning field goal in the same minute. Looking for the equaliser, GB now pressed with urgency making multiple attacks in Belgium’s half.
They had a couple of shots on target, but the 10-man Belgium side held their nerves to deny hosts from scoring. In reply, Belgium earned back-to-back penalty corners, but the GB defence led by goalkeeper Reynolds-Cotterill stood tall to avert the danger.
With less than three minutes left, GB took off their goalkeeper to put an extra outfield player in their bid to score an equaliser. A successful review helped them draw a much-needed penalty corner, but missed out on converting it, final score 2-3 in a closely fought encounter.
