A clinical display from the Rio silver medallists Belgium on Monday saw them thrash South Africa 9-1 in the FIH Hockey World League. 

Belgium got the scoreboard moving after only three minutes when Alexander Hendrickx scored from a penalty corner. The second goal came from field play when Nicolas De Keppel scored.

At halftime the game had already turned into a nightmare for the South Africans with five more goals scored in the second chukka. Belgium were leading by 7-0 with still 30 minutes to play. Thomas Briels (2), Sebastien Dockier, Loick Luypaert and Cedric Charlier all got on the scorecard.

As was in all previous games South Africa had some solid build-ups, but never succeeded in scoring from these phases and presses and plays in the circle from the South African strikers were disappointing.

Matt Guise-Brown scored the only goal for the home team from a penalty corner.

Belgium won silver at the Rio Olympic Games last year and are currently 5th on the world rankings. South Africa is 15th.

South Africa will now play for ninth place in the tournament.

South Africa’s women play Germany in the quarter-final on Tuesday at 6pm.

Photo: Christiaan Kotze/Gallo Images