Kookaburras dominate world number two Belgium in marathon upset

The Kookaburras have beaten world number two Belgium for the first time in six years, pulling off a dominant 3-1 win after enduring a marathon match that lasted close to two hours in the 36-degree Santiago del Estero heat.
          
Australia were playing their fourth match in five days, with the same 18 men, and were determined to finish the stage on a high.
    
Belgium took charge from the outset, controlling the first 10 minutes of the match, but they couldn't make it count as Kookaburras goalkeeper Ash Thomas saved multiple attempts to halt the early charge.
    
With the Kookaburras' full squad selection looming after the stage, wider squad members James Collins and Tassie's Jack Welch would combine to make a play for their position.
    
Combining in the circle with Jack Welch finishing off a great moment of play with a diving shot that rocketed across the line and into the far right of the net.
    
Taking a one-goal lead, the momentum swung, and the Kookaburras dominated through the second and third quarters. Their second goal came off the Kookaburra's fourth penalty corner, as skipper Nathan Ephraums got a fine deflection off the rebound of Cam Geddes's rocketing flick. 
     
The Kookaburras continued to dominate, putting Belgium's keeper under immense pressure as Craig Marais and Nathan Ephraums got close. 
     
Jed Snowden stepped up again at the start of the third, saving two crucial shots on goal as Belgium attempted to get on the scoreboard. 
     
But just as Belgium threatened to score, Cooper Burns and Cam Geddes would strike. 
     
Cooper pulled off a fine run and pass to Cam, who would rocket a shot towards goal. Belgium's goalkeeper, Van Doren, made a good save but Cooper was waiting to finish off the play, powering the shot into the net to hand Australia a handy three-goal lead.  
     
Belgium found momentum in the fourth, earning penalty corners and putting Jed under pressure, and eventually, they were rewarded, scoring their only goal through Nicolas de Kerpel.
    
With 12 minutes remaining, the Kookaburras wound down the clock, halting Belgium's advance to hold onto their first win over Belgium in six years. 

Tim Howard and Tim Brand were the only two players in the side in Santiago del Estero who beat them in 2019.
    
"Yesterday's game against Argentina wasn't our best. It's never nice to lose a game and we definitely didn't want to end the tour on a loss," Player of the Match Tim Brand said on 7plus.

"It was a much better performance tonight and we're very happy with that win."

A late comeback by the Hockeyroos wasn't enough to beat Belgium's first-half blitz, as they fell to an eventual 2-3 loss.
    
The world number three, Belgium, had the Hockeyroos on the ropes within the first minute. Earning a penalty corner within 21 seconds and they made Australia pay with an early goal to take the lead.

Running with the early momentum, Belgium put Australia's defence to work, earning their seventh penalty corner by midway through the second quarter, and finally, they cracked the Hockeyroos again.

Alix Gerniers and Stephanie Vanden Borre picked up the next two goals to see Belgium head into the halftime break with a dominant three-goal lead. 

Head Coach Katrina Powell reminded her inexperienced side they had another half an hour to claw back the difference, and they made good work of it.

The most experienced Hockeyroo, Mariah Williams delivered an unstoppable penalty shot to kickstart the comeback.
    
Playing with extra fire and added confidence, the Hockeyroos showed their potential through a fantastic team goal, where WA's Courtney Schonell found the deflection off Ruby Harris's attempt, following a tidy pass from Pippa Morgan. 

With five minutes left to play, Hockeyroos goalkeeper Zoe Newman made two vital saves to retain the one-goal differential and the Hockeyroos took a 2-3 loss to round out their campaign.

"We definitely had a stronger half and that seems to have been our trend over the last four games," skipper Greta Hayes said on 7plus.

"Unfortunately, we haven't had a game where we've been able to put 100 per cent onto the pitch for the whole 60 minutes however, I do think we've stepped up between each game from game one to game four and we've definitely made improvements."
  
Mark Hager and the Kookaburras selectors will release the final seven players who will make the Kookaburras 2025 squad in the coming days.
    
The Hockeyroos and Kookaburras will train in Perth for the next few months before touring Europe in June for the next stages of the FIH Pro League.
         
All Hockeyroos and Kookaburras matches will be streamed live and FREE and made available in demand on 7plus.
     
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