Belgium scored twice against the run of play to land a place in the Rabo EuroHockey Championships semi-final, outdoing Spain 2-1.
Anouk Raes got the crucial goal as Belgium beat their arch rival Spain 2-1 to advance to the final four of the European Championships, dropping the Spanish into Pool C with Ireland, Scotland and the Czech Republic.
Spain will be especially frustrated as they had the majority of the play and the chances but they succumbed to two sucker-punches.
Spain replied a minute before half-time with an excellent team effort. Marta Segu wriggled out of a tackle on the right of circle and clipped a pass across goal to the waiting Carola Salvatella who swept hom into the open goal.
Aisling d’Hooghe needed to be on form to smother Xantal Gine’s effort as Spain continued to push on.
But from a rare break, Belgium struck again in the 35th minute when Judith Vandermieren laid the ball back to Raes who burst into the circle. She fired a backhand shot into a group of players in front of Maria Ruiz with a series of deflections going up and over the goalkeeper.
Try as Spain might, they were unable to get back into the tie and fell short of the win they needed to advance.
Spain – Belgium
15’ Joanne Peeters 0-1 (pc)
29’ Carola Salvatella 1-1
35’ Anouk Raes 1-2
Umpires: S Wilson (SCO), M Meister (GER)
