FIH Pro League: England's women stage comeback to beat Belgium, as men's side win shootout
- Published
England keeper Maddie Hinch made big saves from a penalty corner and twice from Belgium's Charlotte Engelbert to keep her side in the game
A second-half revival saw England's women come from behind to beat Belgium 2-1 in the FIH Pro League.
The men's side conceded a late equaliser to draw 2-2 but beat Belgium 3-0 in the shootout at Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre in London.
A wonderfully taken goal by Michelle Struijk after a flowing move gave Belgium's women an early lead and the Belgians had further chances to score.
But England came out determined and fighting in the second half and equalised through Tessa Howard.
Grace Balsdon flicked home a fourth-quarter penalty corner to seal the comeback and England now sit sixth in the table with one game to play.
Belgium were the better side in the first half and brought saves from Maddie Hinch, who kept England in the contest.
Coach David Ralph had called for more consistency from his players after an erratic recent run of form, and his words appeared to have motivated England who came out for the third quarter on the front foot and took the game to the Red Panthers.
They increasingly pressured their opponents' goal, with Sophie Hamilton and Hannah Martin forcing a double save from Belgium keeper Elena Sotgiu.
In the 42nd minute England got their reward as Fiona Crackles found Howard, who controlled and fired hard past Sotgiu.
With nine minutes left Balsdon struck and England held on to clinch a deserved victory in front of a near sell-out crowd.
Late blow for England's men softened by shootout win
England's men frustrated a Belgium side vying to win the league in the second game of Saturday's double-header but conceded in the final minute, having led for most of the game, and had to settle for a 2-2 draw and two points after winning the shootout.
With the Netherlands beating India in a shootout earlier in the day to go two points clear, Belgium were desperate for a win, but England put on a great show in drizzly conditions in London.
The home side took the lead through Will Calnan in the second quarter of a tense half after having been awarded a penalty stroke in the first quarter that was overturned after a referral.
As the half neared its close, England held on thanks to big saves from keeper Ollie Payne and faced a nervous wait to see whether Belgium would be awarded a penalty stroke of their own after a clash in the circle. The TV umpire deemed there was not enough to overturn the on-field decision.
Early in the third quarter Calnan struck again, sweeping home after a driving run from Chris Griffiths.
Belgium hit back immediately with a stunning strike by Arthur de Sloover who drove through the England defence before sending a rising shot high into the corner of Payne's net from a tight angle.
In the final minute Alexander Hendrickx levelled for Belgium from a corner, forcing a shootout which England won 3-0 after heroics from Payne, who saved two.
The men's and women's teams both play Belgium again on Sunday in the season finale.
Another victory for England's women could see them finish fourth in the league.