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July 30th, Canada vs Belgium

FINAL SCORE Belgium 3 Canada 0

Half time Belgium 3 Canada 0

Penalty corners Belgium 4 Canada 6

Min 13 Belgium FG

Min 26 Belgium PC

Min 28 Belgium FG

Canada clearly dominated the play for the first 13 minutes of the first half and for almost the entire second half and yet still managed to lose by three goals to nil!

The game was played at Leuven on a dry, humid and overcast afternoon. Belgium had a very early circle penetration in the first minute but after that came under a period of steady pressure from Canada. In the second minute Philip Wright and Connor Grimes both just failed to get to a Rob Short reverse sweep shot that narrowly went outside the far post.

In the 8th minute following a hard hit into the circle by Connor Grimes Canada won their first penalty corner.The initial shot was well saved however a juicy rebound came out to Wayne Fernandes who fired a hard low shot which again the keeper managed to save.

It continued to be all Canada pressure and Belgium did not get their second circle penetration until the 11th minute.In the 13th minute Rob Short appeared to be heavily obstructed in mid field but the call went against Canada. Belgium took the free hit very quickly and then cut into the Canada circle along the goal line, almost unchallenged, the quick past was neatly deflected upwards at the near post and Canada were one down!

Canada immediately won a penalty corner but again could not convert.The play became more balanced and Belgium won their first penalty corner in the 18th minute.Matt Peck made a good save.

In the 23rd minute a hard cross in from the right would have found Richard Hildreth unmarked in front of goal but a minor deflection by a Belgium defender was just enough to steer the ball away from danger.A minute later Canada won their third penalty corner and this time Canada played a switch option to Rob Short who moved in on the goal but then fired his shot high into the keeper's chest.

Two minutes later Belgium won a penalty corner played a switch option to the left and scored.Two minutes later, Belgium scored again following a free hit outside the circle and aided by some poor Canada marking the ball was deflected high into the net.Canada had two good chances prior to the interval to narrow the gap but could not convert either.

Canada started the second half strongly and almost immediately won a Penalty corner, the switch option to Connor Grimes was stopped. Canada now had a whole series of chances but shots either went wide or just over the bar. Dave Jameson created a beautiful deflection off a hard hit into the circle from Rob Short and the ball looked destined for the net until the keeper made a reflex blocker save.

Belgium had two penalty corners in the 55th and 56th minute and from the second Matt Peck made a fine deflection save on to the post and out.Canada continued to press and won two more penalty corners. The first produced a nice rebound but Rob Short's follow up shot went inches over the bar.The second required a good save to stop Scott Sandison scoring.

A very disappointing result from a game Canada should have won but missed several fine chances and made two bad errors.Tomorrow is the last game of the tour and is Canada's chance to prove today was just a bad dream!!! All played except Michael Mahood and Paul Wettlaufer.

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