BHUBANESWAR – Goalkeeper Vincent Vanasch proved the difference as Belgium beat the Netherlands 3-2 in a shootout to win the Men's field hockey World Cup final 2018.
Belgium Pepped the Netherlands via a penalty shootout to lift the maiden title of the Men's Hockey World Cup 2018 at Kalinga Stadium.
Vanasch helped to clinch Belgium's first title when he forced Jeroen Hertzberger wide and the attacker's shot went over in sudden death.
During the Grueling four Quarters, the two teams played an aggressive brand of Hockey, with both of them attempting to up the ante and take the match ahead.
However none of the team opened their account and in the end, with the scoreline at 0-0, the game went into the shootout
The penalty shootout at Kalinga Stadium came after neither team had managed to break through in normal time.
The Netherlands had knocked out defending two-time champion Australia in an epic semifinal December 15, while Belgium demolished England by 6-0.
It was Belgium's third straight major final after the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, and 2017 European championship, where it lost to the Netherlands 4-2.
The Netherlands were chasing a record-tying fourth World Cup title.
Earlier, Australia thrashed England 8-1 in the third-place playoff.
With the Victory, Belgium took the "Gold Medal" while the Netherland settled for "Silver".
