The Belgian hockey men have crowned themselves Olympic champions. Australia pushed the Red Lions to their limits, but in the shoot-outs goalkeeper Vanasch showed why he is the best goalkeeper in the world.
The (r)evolution of the Red Lions has reached its unforgettable pinnacle today. As title favorites they flew into Tokyo and as an over-deserved Olympic champion they fly back to Belgium.
In the dream final, national coach McLeod – who closes his five-year Belgian passage in the most beautiful way – and his fighters looked the physically strong Australians in the eye. It soon became clear that we would not taste cheese with holes. Both blocks stood firm!
Kina was most eager to pop. His princely assumption and two fine shots deserved a goal, but the Australian goalie Charter put a foot and a stick in between. A faltering Hendrickx was also unable to open the score on penalty corner: 0-0 at half time.
Red Lions at the Olympics
- Beijing 2008: ninth
- London 2012: fifth
- Rio 2016: second
- Tokyo 2020: Olympic champion
Without this parade it was already 1-0 for Belgium at half time:
Second half starts sublime, Australian sacrifice follows
Did national coach McLeod last one of his famous speeches on his players during halftime? The fact is, they came out of the locker room fabulously! After a stroke of luck from De Kerpel, Van Aubel forced the Australian goalkeeper to his knees with a quick bounce: 1-0 for the Lions.
The southerners were not taken aback, as with a bellow against the post and a much-needed parade from Vanasch, they made the Lions and millions of supporting Belgians tremble.
Unfortunately, three times turned out to be a charm. At the start of the fourth quarter, Wickham tapped a whirling ball above Vanasch’s head: 1-1 and everything to do again.
In the remaining minutes of regular time, both teams tried to claim the gold, but a once unsecure Hendrickx and a missing Ogilvie accompanied this nail biter to shoot-outs.
Watch Van Aubel’s beautiful opening goal:
Wonderful “The Wall” dominates the shoot-outs
Those shoot-outs once again showed that Belgium has the best goalkeeper in the world: Vincent “The Wall” Vanasch saved no fewer than three (or actually four) Australian attempts.
On the Lions side, stress rabbit Van Aubel, a sober De Sloover and Hendrickx from a penalty ball (after a mistake on Wegnez) were on hand.
The video referee postponed the golden Belgian party for a while by whistling a feather-light error by Vanasch on Whetton, but the Australian also hit our wall in the surf in his re-entry. The signal for the Lions to sprint towards the delirium.
Must see! Check out these historic lap-outs:
Watch the burst of joy after Vanasch’s latest save:
Golden Red Lions are allowed to sing along with Brabançonne in Tokyo
Reactions from Red Lions after getting the gold medal
