Kookaburras surrender four-goal lead as Belgium claim thrilling comeback

The Kookaburras will be left disappointed after Belgium produced a stunning second-half fightback to overturn a four-goal deficit and claim a 5-4 victory in an entertaining FIH Pro League contest in Wavre.

Australia made a dream start, taking control early through Hayden Beltz, who celebrated his first Kookaburras goal in the eighth minute. Beltz timed his deflection to perfection from a penalty corner, guiding the ball into the roof of the net, beating Belgian goalkeeper Simon Vandenbroucke to hand Australia the lead.

The Kookaburras doubled their advantage just three minutes later when Cooper Burns finished clinically to the keeper's left before Tim Brand capped a dominant opening quarter with a composed finish from the baseline in the final minute, sending the Kookaburras into the first break with a commanding 3-0 lead.

Belgium lifted its defensive intensity in the second quarter, restricting Australia's attacking opportunities, but the Kookaburras still found another breakthrough just before half-time. Jack Welch converted from a penalty corner in the 29th minute to extend the lead to 4-0.

The hosts found a response before the main break with Thomas Crols converting from a penalty corner in the final minute of the half to reduce the deficit to 4-1.

Belgium carried that momentum into the third quarter and continued to chip away at Australia's lead. Tom Boon finished a swift counterattack in the 39th minute before Alexander Hendrickx converted a penalty corner three minutes later to bring the home side within one goal heading into the final quarter.

The momentum remained firmly with Belgium as Boon won and converted a penalty corner in the 50th minute to level the scores before completing his hat-trick four minutes later with another drag flick from a penalty corner, sealing a remarkable comeback victory for the hosts.

Despite producing one of their strongest opening halves of the Pro League campaign, the Kookaburras were unable to stem Belgium's momentum after the break, with the home side scoring five unanswered goals to secure all three points.

Watch the replay here.

The Kookaburras will now turn their attention to the FIH Hockey World Cup in August.

Australia goals: Hayden Beltz (8th minute), Cooper Burns (11th minute), Tim Brand (15th minute), Jack Welch (29th minute).