Hockey World Cup 2018 Match 1: Belgium vs Canada, 5 talking points

Belgian players warming up ahead of the match
Belgian players warming up ahead of the match

#4 Belgium squander 7 penalty corners

Belgian players get ready to take a Penalty corner
Belgian players get ready to take a Penalty corner

Belgium won their first Penalty corner in the 19th minute. Luypaert fired it in but it was right down the middle and Kindler, the Canadian keeper, was able to make a save. Their next Penalty corner came in the 3rd quarter -- in the 34th minute. Hendrickk's shot found a Canadian body on the way and the Belgians won their 3rd Penalty corner. Kindler was there to deny the shot heading towards goal once more. Again, the shot was more central but it was a good save by the Canadian custodian nonetheless and the credit cannot be taken away from him.

The 4th penalty corner was won in the 39th minute. Tom Boon won it for his team. However, Hendrickk's shot was fired wide of goal this time around. The 5th Penalty corner was a little too high and a free out was given to the opposition. Luypaert's shot was deemed as dangerous as it was above knee height -- which resulted in the free out being awarded to Canada.

Canada, on the other hand, got their first penalty corner in the 47th minute. Even they were denied by Belgium's custodian from Vincent Vanasch. However, they made Belgium pay when they got another Penalty corner in the very next minute and got a goal back after a goalline scramble. The North American side converted 1 of the 2 PCs they got.

Belgium got a two back to back Penalty corners 2nd last minute. However, Kindler was there to deny them again. A team like Belgium would feel they could have certainly done better and had a much better penalty corner conversion as they failed to convert any of their 7 PCs.

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