TNT Sports
Clark dampens Belgium joy
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Published 13/03/2004 at 15:56 GMT
Unbelievable. For 69 minutes Belgium earned their ticket to this summer's Olympic Games in Athens, but 11 seconds from time South African Gregg Clark, a 32-year-old playing his 236th international equalised and shattered dreams of qualifying in seventh po
Eurosport
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In the 102nd minute the game was decided as 23-year-old Belgian Jean-Phillippe Brulé's penalty flick was saved.
South African's celebrations were muted on the orders of their manager David Carr, as Belgian players lay on the water-based astroturf coming to the terms with the fact that they would not be heading to the Greek capital in August.
The field hockey tournament at the Club de Campo in Madrid had saved its best match to the final day of the tournament.
In an amazing start to the match, Belgium's Charles Vandeweghe deflected a cross in the second minute. Six minutes later Brule made it two goals without reply, flicking into the top right hand corner at a penalty corner.
Squad players leapt off the bench in animated celebration.
Cedric DeGreve, in the Belgian goal, continued to keep South Africa at bay, but conceded in the 14th minute through a rebound strike by 21-year-old Iain Evans.
Umpires Sumesh Putra and Christian Blasch issued green cards to South Africans Ryan Ravenscroft and Emile Smith, and Maxime Luycx of Belgium.
As the clock ticked down in the final minute, the Belgium bench was left standing when Clark rifled a strike under a despairing dive from DeGreve on 69:49 minutes. Full-time 2-2.
The full-time whistle went immediately afterwards. Twenty minutes of extra time were played. In the final five minutes Belgium were down to ten men as captain Xavier-Charles Letier was given a yellow card for a professional foul.
Both team managers decided to replace their goalkeepers for the penalty flick competition: Manu Leroy for DeGreve of Belgium, and Spaniard David Staniforth for Chris Hibbert.
Brulé and Marc Coudron, Greg Nicol and Ian Symons scored their flicks, then Maixime Luycx (saved) and Wayne Denne (crossbar) missed. Score 2-2.
Belgian Gilles Petre scored, Steve Evans mistimed his flick (Belgium 3-2); Reckinger flicked and Staniforth saved to his right. South African Craig Fulton scored for 3-3.
Into sudden death, Symons scored (4-3) and Staniforth made as easy save to his right from Brule's flick. Game over.
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