World No.2 Belgium have got the better of a nine-goal thriller in Antwerp to down the Kookaburras 5-4 in hockey's Pro League.
A 59th-minute strike from Loick Luypaert proved the winner, after Australia's Blake Govers had equalised two minutes earlier in a thrilling, see-sawing contest.
Coming up against the Belgians for the first time since losing the gold-medal match of the Tokyo Olympics, the Kookaburras started Saturday's clash with fierce intent but found themselves behind after six minutes.
Jeremy Hayward was dispossessed trying to bring the ball out of his own defensive circle and Nelson Onana capitalised, smashing his tomahawk through the legs of goalkeeper Andrew Charter to open the scoring.
Chances came and went at each end before the dominant Kookaburras got their breakthrough in the 13th minute from their fifth penalty corner of the quarter.
Govers' drag flick was saved by Vincent Vanasch but the rebound fell invitingly to Daniel Beale who would not miss.
The home side were back in front four minutes later, Thibeau Stockbroekx scoring to leave Australia a goal down at halftime.
Jake Whetton pulled the trigger in the 40th minute only to be denied by Vanasch but the midfielder scored from the resultant penalty corner, his rising shot sailing in through a sea of bodies.
The Kookaburras took the lead for the first time four minutes later through Ky Willott's instinctive close-range finish, but it was to prove short lived with Arthur de Sloover quickly levelling.
Despite dominating the penalty-corner count, the Kookaburras found themselves trailing again with five minutes to go when Arno Van Dessel struck for Belgium to make it 4-3.
The breathless encounter still had more to offer as Govers levelled for the Kookaburras following a sublime assist from Tim Brand.
But time remained for one final twist, and Belgium snatched a late winner when Luypaert fired his drag flick low through the legs of keeper Charter.
"We're hurting. We created enough opportunities and conceded a couple of easy goals which we're disappointed about," Charter said.
"It got a bit frantic at the end. We equalised late and then unfortunately we gave them a corner ... we should have controlled the ball better after we scored."
