Kookaburras Defeat Belgium in Champions Trophy Opener
Victorian Chris Ciriello suffered a broken nose before clinching the decisive goal in the Kookaburras 4-2 win over Belgium as they started their title defence at the Champions Trophy in Melbourne.
The 62ndminute penalty corner goal was enough to hold off Belgium who had scored twice in three minutes to spark thoughts of an unlikely upset against the host nation.
Ciriello was forced from the field after copping a ball to the nose just before half time. The impact broke his nose and chipped three teeth with team medics re-aligning the bridge at the half time break.
“This is my home crowd and I only have six games so I said I want to be out there (to the team doctors) and I wasn’t going to miss a chance to play a major game in a major tournament in my city,” Ciriello said.
“Generally I’m the one that does the hitting, that’s karma, you get some, you give some, that’s all part of hockey.
“I clicked it a couple of times and it seemed to straighten, but I think I have chipped a few teeth and will probably need to get checked out.”
It was the Kookaburras who made the better start in the opening stages of the match earning two early penalty corners to put the pressure on Belgium.
The second penalty corner opened the account for the Australians, as a low shot on the follow up by Victorian Glenn Simpson found the back of the net.
It was a great start for the local who is starting his first Champions Trophy after the 25-year-old missed out on playing in at the London Olympics earlier this year.
Australia dominated play however keeper George Bazeley came to the rescue with two consecutive saves from Belgian penalty corners.
On 29 minutes, Queenslander Jacob Whetton made the most of a Joel Carroll touch to hit the back of the net. Whetton was a late addition into the team and celebrated his Champions Trophy debut with a goal.
The Kookaburras continued to threaten and in a strong period of play from 23-year-old Matt Swann, the Queenslander forced a penalty corner ten minutes from the half time break. A deflection on the follow up resulted in the ball deflecting off a Belgium stick into the face of Chris Ciriello that ended with the defender leaving the pitch.
Australia started the second half on the press and had Belgium on the back foot early taking a third on 37minutes through Victorian Russell Ford to seemly shut the game out.
Things changed a minute later when Belgium found their feet and got themselves into the game courtesy of two goals in two minutes from Sebastien Dockier.
At 3-2 the game came alive and Belgium started to push the number two ranked Australians.
Ciriello, who returned to the pitch in the second half, continued to make an impact and scored a crucial goal to put the game out of Belgium’s reach.
“We have a few new guys and haven’t really been together since London. There are a few things to look at and our connections are off, we have good individuals but need to bring it together,” said Ciriello.
In other games it was the Netherlands who were too strong for Pakistan winning 3-1 and London Olympic champions Germany who held off a late push from New Zealand to win 3-2.
AIS-WAIS athletes Fergus Kavanagh, Kiel Brown and Trent Mitton played in the match for Australia.
– Hockey Australia
