Via two striking penalty corners from Jip Janssen, the Orange took the lead twice at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, but the Belgians came back twice. First via a striking penalty corner from Tom Boon and at the end of the third quarter via a hit from Nicolas De Kerpel. In the fourth quarter, Belgium had the ultimate chance to win 3-2, but Orange goalkeeper Pirmin Blaak stopped specialist Tom Boon’s penalty shot.
Pirmin Blaak was also expected to play a heroic role in the shoot-outs, after it was 2-2 after 60 minutes and the decision had to be made that way. Blaak stopped two Belgian attempts, but Thijs van Dam, Terrance Pieters and Seve van Ass failed to score on behalf of the Netherlands. The Belgians therefore won 3-2, just like in the 2018 World Cup final, also then in Bhubaneswar.
The Netherlands will play against Australia for bronze on Sunday. The Australian men came 3-2 in the 58th minute in their semi-final earlier today, but Germany eventually won 3-4 with a goal six seconds from time.
Watch the spectacular semi-final between Australia and Germany here