Spain let the victory slip away with two goals from Belgium in half a minute
MADRID, 20 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish women's field hockey team came close to victory this Saturday in the Pre-Olympic Championship held in Valencia, losing the final (1-2) to Belgium with two goals against in less than a minute in the last quarter, without tarnishing the success of the ticket achieved to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The 'Red Sticks' will be in the Olympic Games for the third consecutive edition after their qualifications for Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) and Tokyo, after passing the semifinals on Thursday. All in all, Spain looked for the pin and look up in the world ranking against one of the powers of this sport.
After the 0-5 they conceded against Belgium in the last European match, the Spanish team showed that they were back at the highest level in a well-worked match, suffered at times, and with Sara Barrios' 1-0 in the second set. Clara Pérez once again delivered between the sticks, but Belgium was also protected.
The host lost balls under the Belgian pressure in the first quarter, but escaped the penalty-corner succession and struck when she had her chance just before the break. Belgium showed that they had studied the Spanish well, but after the restart they came close to livening up the final with chances for both.
The match took on Belgian dynamics at least in possession, with Spain waiting for their option to go on the counterattack. Carlos García Cuenca's men handled the dangers of the European runners-up well until, with less than five minutes remaining, two goals came in close succession from Belgium.
Two great goals from Louise Versavel and Charlotte Englebert that did not completely frustrate Spain, because the 'Red Sticks' once again have the strength to fight for everything in Paris 2024. In addition, Belén Iglesias celebrated 100 games and Lola Riera, 200 with Spain.