Men’s semi-final: Germany – Belgium 2-2 (1-1), Belgium win 2-0 on shoot-out
A perfect shoot-out from Vincent Vanasch saw Belgium reach the final of the Rabo EuroHockey Championships, beating six-time champions Germany after a cracking tie in the Wagener Stadium.
The Germans got off to a rip-roaring start with Christopher Ruhr’s charging run finding a foot for the game’s first penalty corner. Lukas Windfeder fired in his fourth goal of the competition with a drag-flick into the top right corner over Florent van Aubel’s head.
Belgium, though, were buzzing at times in the first half with chances for Thomas Briels, Tom Boon and Florent van Aubel before Boon got the levelling goal, spinning a shot in off a defender.
And they thought they had a second when they worked a beautiful move out to Felix Denayer who slammed into the backboard. A long video review, however, spotted a foot in the build-up that meant the effort was cancelled.
Germany v Belgium – Men's Rabo EuroHockey Championships – Match Highlights http://pic.twitter.com/gaySZT6os7
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Sebastien Dockier did make it 2-1 in the 37th minute with Boon finding the striker with a clever pass inside.
Ruhr was always a threat and his cross went within inches of being touched in by Niklas Wellen while Loick Luypaert made timely interventions to maintain the lead.
Vincent Vanasch produced a truly spectacular save with his glove – following two earlier blocks – to deny Marco Miltkau in a thrilling final quarter.
Belgium, meanwhile, had the chance to kill the game off when Germany had swapped out their goalkeeper only for Matthias Muller to chase back and brilliantly clean up the chance.
It gave Germany a lifeline, one they seem to relish. And so it came to Benedikt Furk to pick up the ball on the left of the circle and shoot home at Vanasch’s near post, landing their shoot-out chance.
But Felix Denayer and Victor Wegnez scored their shoot-outs while Vincent Vanasch kept out all four German efforts to earn their place in the final for the second time.
Simon Gougnard was named man of the match and he was delighted with the defensive platform his side put in place.
“It’s a really great team effort to beat Germany. It’s never easy, especially in the end phase. We worked really hard in our press and our really proud of our performance today.
“We wanted to press them really hard and we worked really hard. It started with the attackers who did a really good job with the defence and midfield in behind them.”
Asked about bouncing back from the late goal and the shoot-out.
“We needed to keep our composure at the end and it’s never easy. They came back so we needed to mentally ready for the shoot-out and I think we did a great job. It’s a lot of pressure but it’s what is nice about sport.”
Germany – Belgium
3’ Lukas Windfeder 1-0 (pc)
18’ Tom Boon 1-1
37’ Sebastien Dockier 1-2
59’ Benedikt Furk 2-2
Umpires: J van ‘t Hek (NED), B Bale (ENG)
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