It was a day of blended fortunes for the Spanish groups as FIH Hockey Professional League motion resumed on the Sydney Olympic Park Hockey Centre in Australia on Tuesday. The lads’s aspect put up a powerful battle however in the end succumbed to the Netherlands whereas the ladies edged China in a shootout.
(Males’s) Netherlands 4 – 2 Spain
The Netherlands put in a giant shift within the third quarter to arrange a 4-2 win over a younger Spanish aspect enjoying of their first worldwide match since final 12 months’s Paris Olympic Video games.
Spain began energetically, counter-attacking repeatedly and troubling the Dutch with sheer tempo by way of the centre channel. The primary actual likelihood fell to the Dutch within the 6th minute, however goalkeeper Luis Calzado obtained his angles proper to disclaim Terrance Pieters. Spain broke out instantly just for Nicolas Alvarez to clatter his shot into the woodwork.
There have been half probabilities at each ends by way of the second quarter, Spain placing a shot over the crossbar from a shortly taken free hit within the 24th minute, and Koen Bijen hitting the pads on the different finish a minute later. The Netherlands grabbed the lead within the 27th minute when Miles Bukkens turned cleverly on the left aspect of the circle and slapped his shot previous the helpless Calzado for a 1-0 lead at half time.
The Netherlands added three targets as they ran rampant within the third quarter. Bijen earned a penalty nook within the 32nd minute and needed to stretch excessive above his head to slap the rebound in. Two minutes later Lucas Veen flicked residence on the run after working exceptionally arduous to obtain a move within the circle, and Steijn van Heijningen gained a goalmouth scramble when Floris Middendorp fed a harmful ball by way of to the p-spot. Spain pulled one again within the 45th minute, Nicolas Alvarez crossing in direction of objective the place an unlucky defender deflected the ball into the online.
Play ebbed and flowed with a few half probabilities within the ultimate quarter, however the perfect probabilities fell to Spain within the ultimate two minutes. José Basterra beat the goalkeeper with a miscued penalty stroke within the 59th minute after which had a penalty nook variation saved within the closing seconds.
The participant of the match was awarded to Miles Bukkens who mirrored on enjoying in Sydney: “I wish to play a variety of video games within the Professional League, and Sydney here’s a very good place to play my 6th recreation.”
(Girls’s) China 2 – 2 Spain (SO: 2 – 3)
A herculean defensive effort from Spain’s ladies gave them a share of the factors in a sensational 2-2 draw with China. They went on to clinch a bonus level with a 3-2 win within the shootout.
China have been dominant all through and would have triumphed towards their inexperienced opponents have been it not for the distinctive Clara Perez in objective. China bossed the complete first half with out reward, with the midfield being hotly contested.
China’s first actual likelihood got here from a 20th-minute penalty nook, however the runners closed it down. Perez then obtained down low to glove a penalty nook extensive within the 24th minute and Spain loved a quick spell on the assault, failing from two penalty corners earlier than discovering themselves on the again foot once more. China earned a penalty nook within the dying seconds of the half, however the shot went straight down the center for Perez to glove it away safely and it remained goalless at half time.
China continued to dominate by way of the third quarter and Dan Wen inevitably fired them forward from open play within the 33rd minute. Spain promptly pounced on a poor Chinese language move out of defence and located Florencia Amundson unmarked for a deflection to revive parity. Ou Zixia gave China the lead for the second time, slapping a penalty nook residence from the left of the fort within the 43rd minute. The Chinese language almost had a 3rd from open play, however one other distinctive Perez save denied them because the clock ran down on the third quarter.
China heaped on the strain in the beginning of the fourth quarter, forcing Perez to avoid wasting two penalty corners and a shot from normal play. However, in a dramatic late twist, house opened up as fatigue set in and it was Spain who appeared to search out further legs to take benefit. Xantal Gine snatched an unlikely draw within the 59th minute with a blistering penalty nook strike, sending the match to a shootout the place her workforce prevailed to say an unlikely two factors.
An exhausted Clara Perez obtained the participant of the match award and stated: “We’ve as we speak I believe seven new gamers who’ve made their debut, and we’re actually comfortable for them.”
Present Hero Prime Scorers:
Girls – Freeke Moes (NED), Yibbi Jansen (NED (4 targets)
Males – Tom Boon (BEL), Sam Ward (ENG) (8 targets)
To see the present standings within the FIH Hockey Professional League, click on right here.
FIH Hockey Professional League – 4 February 2025
Sydney Olympic Park Hockey Centre (AUS)
Males
End result: Match 13 (M)
Netherlands 4 – 2 Spain
Participant of the match: Miles Bukkens (NED)
Umpires: David Tomlinson (NZL), Hyosik You (KOR), Xiaoying Liu (CHN-video)
Girls
End result: Match 13 (W)
China 2 – 2 Spain (SO: 2 – 3)
Participant of the match: Clara Perez (ESP)
Umpires: Amber Church (NZL), Minami Inamoto (JPN), David Tomlinson (NZL-video)
by FIH – Professional League
