Champions Trophy Hockey: Belgium, Australia Play Out 4-4 Draw
In a fiery battle for a win, both Australia and Belgium scored goals galore only to share the honours at the end of the four quarters.
- Indo-Asian News Service
- Updated: December 07, 2014 04:06 pm IST
Australia and Belgium got day two of the Champions Trophy hockey off to a rip-roaring start with a stunning 4-4 draw in Pool A with Tom Boon scoring in the dying moments here Sunday.
After a feisty, physical first quarter ended scoreless, the second period was outstanding, consisting of five goals in quick succession.
The Australian team also called the Kookaburras started the run with three goals in five minutes -- Chris Ciriello dragging home low for 1-0 before Eddie Ockenden stole the ball in the Belgian circle, shimmied left and slid home on his backhand.
Jake Whetton nabbed the third from close range after goalkeeperJeremy Gucasoff could only half-stop Matt Gohdes cross-shot.
But Belgium fought back quickly with Sebastien Dockier going alone to fire past Andrew Charter. Simon Gougnard then picked out Florent van Aubel to tap in his side's second goal on the stroke of half-time. It left them trailing 2-3 but right back in the contest.
Flynn Ogilvie, with his first international goal, extended the margin for Australia when he finished off a great move down the left flank but, within two minutes, Belgium were back in contention with John-John Dohmen tapping in from the second phase of a corner.
That made it 4-3 to the Kookaburras going into the final quarter but it looked like the game was getting away from Belgium until a series of last minute penalty corners.
From the final one, awarded with three seconds to go, Tom Boon recovered a miscued drag-flick to smash home a dramatic equaliser.
The result leaves Belgium on four points after two games while Australia have just one.