Ireland fail to make last eight after Belgium defeat

Ireland gave world-ranked three co-hosts Belgium the fright of their lives before succumbing to two third-period goals in a 2-1 defeat at the World Cup.

Needing to win the game to progress to the higher end of the crossover matches for first to eighth places in the tournament, Ireland produced an outstanding performance, taking the lead through a first period goal from Charlotte Beggs.

They were controversially denied a penalty stroke that could have made it 2-0 before half-time and then bravely defended the lead until 11:21 to go in the game when Belgium’s pressure finally paid off with a strike from Charlotte Englebert.

By the time Ambre Ballenghien tapped in the second goal with 30 seconds left, it was into an empty net with Irish goalkeeper Lizzie Murphy pulled for an extra outfield player.

“We're really, really pleased with the performance. I thought we started the game really well, actually,” said Irish coach Gareth Grundie.

“I felt we actually deserved to be ahead at halftime. We knew they'd come out really strong in the second half, and it was about trying to weather the storm a little bit but not sitting back.

“We ended up soaking up a little bit too much pressure, and unfortunately they got back into it. Once it got to 1-1, we started really trying to play again.

“But yeah, so really pleased with the performance, and we have tonight to take that one into Saturday.”

Ireland started the game in composed fashion with Roisin Upton and Hannah McLoughlin to the fore in the good work they were doing.

Belgium’s best opportunities came from Irish turnovers but it would be the underdogs who silenced the large home support.

Niamh Carey had already had a goal disallowed for a back stick infringement when from a penalty corner, McLoughlin’s shot was parried into the air and Beggs, who had injected the ball, was on hand to score.

Ireland grew in confideuce. Defensively Ellen Curran and Sarah McAuley, who have both had impressive tournaments, were superb and Ireland were not just content with parking the bus.

Katie Mullan and Carey provided outlets from defence and a a typical Mullan shift ended with her winning a penalty corner and led to the most controversial moment of the game.

Another variation saw an Irish effort stopped on the line. A penalty stroke was awarded but the umpire, under pressure from the Belgian defenders, decided to refer the decision to the video umpire for confirmation.

They returned with an explanation that overturned the decision and led to a chorus of boos from the Irish support.

They adjudged the ball to have hit the glove of the defender while holding her stick, bounced up and hit her facemask but they couldn’t then conclude if the ball was going into the goal, despite the defenders facemask being behind her glove.

It was a chance for Ireland to go 2-0 up against the already rattled Belgians.

“I don't know. They have more cameras than we have, so I have to trust the decision,” said Grundie.

“It was very frustrating.”

Captain Sarah Hawkshaw added, “The explanation we got was that the momentum of the ball was going up and not back. Yeah, look, it's a disappointing call.

“Another day we get it. Unfortunately, we can't rely on that one moment.

“We had other penalty corners, we had other opportunities to put a ball away. It’s a hard one to take in the moment. It will be for another while, but we'll have to regroup.”

After half-time there started wave after wave of Belgian attacks although they created few clear cut chances and as a team Ireland defended bravely but with composure.

With a quarter to go they still held that 1-0 lead.

Eventually, however, the pressure from the home side tolled when Englebert’s turn and shot beat Murphy.

Ireland came forward, looking for a goal that would have put them through to the last eight.

They pulled Murphy for an extra player and Ballenghien‘s last minute goal was cruel on Ireland.

Belgium celebrated but they know how close they came to being knocked out of their own World Cup.

“We're getting so close, but we're also getting sick of saying how close we are. We really, really wanted to get over the line there,” said Hawkshaw.

“I'm really proud. We showed up, we fronted up, our defense was immaculate.

“Another day, decisions could have changed and it could have been a different scoreline.”

Ireland deserved more from the game but will carry three points over to the ninth to 16th place play-offs, with games against Scotland and the USA to come.

“We'll have to take the good moments from that game and we have another group to play in, and actually very important games to play yet,” explained Hawkshaw.

“We've already beaten one team above our ranking, which was brilliant for us. We challenged Spain and now Belgium. We have a chance to finish higher than our world ranking and we don’t want to take a step back.”