Hockey World Cup 2018, Semifinal 1: Belgium vs England - 5 Talking Points

The Kalinga Stadium at Bhubaneswar witnessed a recent spectacle to the charm of this Belgian team when they pummeled England by 6-0
The Kalinga Stadium at Bhubaneswar witnessed a recent spectacle to the charm of this Belgian team when they pummeled England by 6-0

#4 Penalty corner specialists have a field day

Penalty Corner Specialists have a field day
Penalty Corner Specialists have a field day

If someone thoroughly enjoyed their position in this semifinal, it was the penalty corner specialists from Belgium, who literally had a field day when they scored goals at will against the English side.

It began with Simon Gougnard, the hero of the Belgian team against India, who chipped in a crucial goal in the 19th minute with a penalty corner.

Even though the Belgians couldn't extend their lead for the next 23 minutes, they still had an upper advantage over England. It was in the final quarter, when the penalty corner specialists came back into action, extending the lead of Belgium by leaps and bounds.

When Alexander Hendrickx received the crucial penalty corner for Belgium in the 45th minute, Belgium was already ahead by 3-0.

However, he chipped in two back to back goals, in the 45th and the 50th minute to give Belgium an unassailable lead of 5-0. Sebastian Dockier thrust the final nail in the coffin of English dreams by extending the lead to 6-0.

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