Kookaburras, Hockeyroos suffer narrow losses to world number two & three Belgium

A scintillating match against world number two Belgium ended in shootout heartbreak for the Kookaburras, after a world-class goalkeeping display saw the two sides locked at 2-all at full time.

Four-minute quarter breaks were enforced in the earlier match of the evening, as the Santiago del Estero sun blazed 36-degree heat at 7pm with high humidity.

But it didn't stop a relentless 60 minutes of play, with countless turnovers and fast, attacking hockey, as neither side let up in their pursuit of victory in the first match of the Aussie-Belgium rivalry for 2025.

Fresh off a 2-0 win over the hosts Argentina 24 hours earlier, the Kookaburras carried that momentum into the match against the world number two. 

Within three minutes, they had their first chance at an early lead, rewarded with a penalty stroke as Cooper Burns attempted to get past the eventual Player of the Match Loic van Doren.

A goalkeeping masterclass by Jed Snowden held the scoreline at nil-all, as he denied Belgium three crucial opportunities to take the lead and the momentum for the rest of the match. 

As the two sides continued a high-tempo tit-for-tat battle down each end of the pitch, Liam Henderson would soon make the Europeans pay, with a brilliant run and a sensational through ball to Cam Geddes, who was waiting in just his second international appearance to put it away in the back of the net. 

Holding a one-goal lead into the second, the Kookaburras continued to make vital saves as Tim Brand's pace proved pivotal at the penalty corner. 

The second quarter was all Australia's, as van Doren was forced to make back-to-back saves to halt the Kookaburras' advance. 

But it would be the FIH Pro League's top goalscorer Tom Boon who would ultimately save the game for Belgium. 

Scoring twice, once with a brilliant field goal, before collecting his 13th goal of the season off the penalty corner in the fourth. 

But Australia would answer straight back, earning a penalty corner just one minute later and Jack Welch's flick would ultimately send the match to a shootout.

The Kookaburras' run against Belgium in a shootout continued, as they went down to the world number two side in sudden death.

"It was an incredibly close game; we had some really close opportunities, and they also had some really good opportunities, and there were times that both teams had good momentum," Tim Howard said on 7plus.
     
"I think their goalkeeper had a great game. It was a really tight game and it was awesome to go to a shootout. We're looking forward to having a day off tomorrow and then coming back against Argentina in a couple of days."

It was a case of de ja vu for the Hockeyroos, who found themselves desperately hunting an equaliser in the final minutes of the match against Belgium, just like they had 24 hours earlier against Argentina.

The Hockeyroos lined up with an average cap number of 31 to Belgium's 98, knowing it would be a tough encounter in the 33-degree heat at 9pm.

The world number three side showcased their world-class ranking, holding possession and dominating circle entries and shots on goal for the first three-quarters of the match.

Hockeyroos goalkeeper Zoe Newman ensured three penalty corners would halt Belgium's advance in the first quarter, before Ambre Ballenghein finally made it count in the opening seconds of the second quarter, scoring the first of two goals that would ultimately seal the win.

By halftime, Belgium had managed five shots on goal to Australia's one, although they only had one goal to show for it. 

Ballenghein would bag her second towards the end of the third, before the Hockeyroos were rewarded for their added pressure in the fourth, with a sublime goal to NSW Mariah Williams.

The most-capped Hockeyroo in Argentina delivered a powerful shot past the keeper into the back of the net, igniting a late comeback. 

The Hockeyroos found a renewed energy and attempted to chase down an equaliser in the final stages of the match, but Belgium held strong, rewarded ultimately for a comprehensive performance.

"We need to work on our basics as a team and really attack as a unit and sustain that attacking pressure in the circle," Hattie Shand said on 7plus post-match.

"But overall, it was a good fight, and we got close."

The Kookaburras and Hockeyroos have a day off in Santiago del Estero before taking on the hosts Argentina on Monday morning at 9am and 11.30am AEDT.

Kookaburras v Belgium
Kookaburras: 2 (3) (Cam Geddes 15" (FG), Jack Welch 53" (PC))
Belgium: 2 (4) (Tom Boon 36" (FG) & 51" (PC))

In Santiago del Estero, Argentina

Kookaburras: 5. Cooper Burns, 6. Anand Gupte, 7. Nathan Ephraums, 9. Liam Henderson, 12. Jed Snowden (gk), 15. Jayden Atkinson, 16. Tim Howard (c), 19. Craig Marais, 20. Ky Willott, 21. Jack Welch, 23. Hayden Beltz, 26. James Collins, 28. Ash Thomas (gk), 29. Tim Brand, 37. Tom Harvie, 51. Nathan Czinner, 53. Cambell Geddes, 61. Ben White

Hockeyroos v Belgium
Hockeyroos: 1 (Mariah Williams 55")
Belgium: 2 (Ambre Ballenghein 16", 43"). 

In Santiago del Estero, Argentina

Hockeyroos: 3. Morgan Mathison, 5. Grace Young, 8. Maddi Brooks, 10. Abby Wilson, 12. Greta Hayes (c), 13. Hattie Shand, 16. Courtney Schonell, 17. Lucy Sharman, 18. Alana Kavanagh, 20. Karri Somerville, 21. Jade Smith, 24. Mariah Williams, 25. Zoe Newman (gk), 39. Ruby Harris, 40. Pippa Morgan, 73. Karissa Van der Wath