Lausanne, Switzerland – Within the sweltering temperatures in Santiago del Estera, Argentina, each the Belgian sides had been victorious in opposition to Australia. A double sudden-death spherical of shootouts gave the Belgian males their victory within the opener, whereas the Crimson Panthers managed the sport to take a 2-1 win over the Hockeyroos.
Earlier within the day in Bhubaneswar, the Netherlands girls’s aspect made a triumphant return to motion of their first FIH Hockey Professional League match of the yr, dismantling England 5-1 whereas Germany’s girls had been additionally in dominant kind in opposition to hosts India. Within the day’s different fixture, India’s males needed to come from a purpose right down to get the higher of Eire.
(Girls’s) England 1 – 5 Netherlands
The Netherlands began slowly earlier than ripping England’s defence aside of their 5-1 win in scorching 32-degree warmth.
After an evenly contested opening quarter, the Dutch stepped up the strain with a excessive press to imagine management. Sabbie Heesh was glorious in purpose for England and it took a high-quality deflection from Joosje Burg within the twenty seventh minute to provide the Netherlands a slender 1-0 lead at half-time.
The Dutch then took the sport away from England within the third quarter. They doubled their lead within the thirty third minute, an extended ball by way of the centre discovering Frédérique Matla on the 23-yard line. She drew three defenders to the highest of the circle earlier than slipping a move to the unmarked Pien Dicke on the left put up for a deft deflection. Luna Fokke prolonged the lead with a drag flick off a penalty nook, and Matla made it 4-0 as she prowled alongside the baseline behind England’s defence.
Matla once more drew defenders to her within the fiftieth minute earlier than feeding Fay van der Elst for a tap-in. Olivia Hamilton then grabbed a late comfort purpose for England, however the Dutch celebrated a giant win of their first worldwide match since December.
The participant of the match was awarded to Frédérique Matla of the Netherlands who stated: “I’m actually pleased with the sport. It’s good to be again with the ladies and right here in India as nicely… It was an excellent first recreation and very nice to begin the brand new yr with a win. We love the solar so we’re blissful to be right here – in Holland it’s very chilly!”
(Girls’s) India 0 – 4 Germany
Germany took their possibilities for a 4-0 win over hosts India, coping higher in moist circumstances that examined the drainage capability of the pitch to the restrict at occasions.
Amelie Wortmann acquired Germany off to the right begin by opening the scoring from a Third-minute goalmouth scramble. The Germans went on to dominate the primary half and Sophia Schwabe doubled their lead with an 18th-minute area purpose. India created some glorious alternatives with flowing counterattacks and though they trailed 2-0 on the break they had been nonetheless within the recreation.
The house aspect put in a powerful exhibiting by way of a goalless third quarter and their hopes had been nonetheless very a lot alive heading into the ultimate interval. Nevertheless, Schwabe struck a killer blow with a Forty seventh-minute reverse strike and there was no manner again for India. Johanna Hachenberg had the ultimate say for Germany, grabbing her first worldwide purpose from a late penalty nook rebound.
Germany’s Sophia Schwabe obtained the participant of the match award and stated: “I’m so pleased with my staff that we made a giant step ahead, and we’re trying ahead and so excited to play the subsequent recreation in opposition to India.”
(Males’s) India 3 – 1 Eire
India needed to struggle again from a purpose down in a troublesome 3-1 win over Eire.
The Irish opened the scoring with an Eighth-minute ripper when Jeremy Duncan squeezed the ball onerous into the turf and launched it over goalkeeper Krishan Bahadur Pathak’s shoulder. The Irish got here near stretching the lead a few occasions, however the glorious Pathak was decided to not concede a second.
India steadily battled their manner again and their equaliser got here within the twenty second minute. It was particular person brilliance from Mandeep Singh, who carried the ball 30 meters and lashed it into the roof of the online to please the house followers. The purpose triggered a wave of Indian assaults, however the scores remained locked 1-1 at half time.
The hosts bossed the second half, however they struggled to beat the courageous Irish defence till the forty fifth minute when Jarmanpreet Singh’s penalty nook rebound lastly discovered a well beyond Jamie Carr in purpose. The match was intently fought to the top, and it took a intelligent penalty nook variation from India within the 58th minute to safe the consequence. Harmanpreet Singh first eradicated the Irish runners with a giant form to the appropriate, then made a magical slip again to the stopper who injected in the direction of purpose for Sukhjeet Singh to attain from a deflection.
Sukhjeet Singh was named participant of the match for India and stated: “The staff carried out nicely in opposition to a very good Irish aspect. Our second-half efficiency was notably nice to come back from behind, take the lead and maintain on to get the win”
(Males’s) Australia 2 – 2 Belgium (SO: 3-4)
Australia struck first within the fifteenth minute after an interception at midfield sparked a fast break down the left aspect of the pitch. Cambell Geddes obtained the ball on the baseline and managed to the touch it previous Belgian keeper Loic van Doren, marking his first worldwide purpose in simply his second match.
Tom Boon, the league’s prime scorer, responded with two objectives for Belgium. His first got here off a Tobias Biekens supply that popped up off Thibeau Stockbroekx earlier than Boon redirected it in for the equalizer. Boon secured his second within the fourth quarter with an excellent drag flick end. Regardless of controlling a lot of the offensive play, Australia discovered themselves needing a late rally. Jack Welch answered the decision, blasting a penalty nook flick previous van Doren to stage the rating.
Because the clock wound down, the sport’s physicality and tempo remained excessive. A tough problem within the Australian defensive circle noticed Hayden Beltz obtain a yellow card, resulting in back-to-back penalty corners for Belgium. Nevertheless, van Doren made two essential saves to ship the match to a shootout.
After a 2-2 draw within the preliminary shootout spherical, Antoine Kina delivered the decisive purpose, sealing Belgium’s 4-3 shootout victory. The Crimson Lions continued their excellent file in opposition to Australia in shootouts, going 5-for-5, with Boon and Kina delivering clutch finishes in sudden loss of life to say the bonus level.
Belgium keeper Loic van Doren was named participant of the match and stated: “That is our second recreation (in Argentina) and the circumstances are fairly sizzling and fairly troublesome however this younger staff reveals there may be much more within the tank. It’s very nice l to see that we carry on making steps ahead like on this recreation. We had a extremely good coaching camp earlier than this week and we skilled quite a bit. It’s at all times good and rewarding if you practice onerous and the saves come as nicely. I’ll stick to that and can carry on working for the subsequent couple of video games a nicely.”
(Girls’s) Australia 1 – 2 Belgium
Belgium managed the tempo of the sport proper from the beginning. Judith Vandermeiren had the primary take a look at of Australian keeper Zoe Newman with a robust backhand shot however Newman steered the ball broad. The Hockeyroos struggled to create possibilities, incomes only one penalty nook within the first half, however Karri Somerville’s low flick drifted broad.
The breakthrough got here early within the second quarter when Alix Gerniers pounced on a rebound that got here hig off Newman’s pads. A intelligent few touches arrange Ambre Ballenghienl, who battled by way of chaos to get it over the road for a 1-0 lead. Belgium doubled their benefit late within the third, sparked by a surging run from Lien Hillewaert. Perrine de Clerck’s circle entry was intelligent and opened up Ballenghien, who skillfully popped the ball up earlier than smashing it out of the air and in for her second of the match.
The Crimson Panthers continued to place Australia underneath strain, with Alix Marien carving house within the circle, however her move skidded previous the put up. Australia lastly discovered a breakthrough late within the fourth quarter when excessive strain pressured a turnover. Jade Smith’s move linked with Mariah Williams, who confirmed her expertise and fired a backhand strike to chop the deficit to at least one. Regardless of the late push, Belgium’s scientific ending secured a 2-1 victory.
Belgium’s Delphine Marien was named participant of the match and stated: “I believe we performed very well. It was a tricky recreation. The climate is absolutely sizzling which was powerful for us however we saved going. We labored actually onerous as a staff and I believe we deserved the three factors. We’re all a bit drained however that’s a part of the sport. They’re additionally drained in order that’s not an excuse. We saved going as a staff and you may see that on the pitch.”
Present Hero Prime Scorers:
Girls – Freeke Moes (NED), Yibbi Jansen (NED), Frédérique Matla (NED), Jinzhuang Tan (CHN), Stephanie Vanden Borre (BEL), Agustina Gorzelany (ARG) Sophia Schwabe (GER) (4 objectives)
Males –Tom Boon (BEL) (13 objectives)
To see the present standings within the FIH Hockey Professional League, click on right here.
FIH Hockey Professional League – 21 February 2025
Kalinga Hockey Stadium, Bhubaneswar, India (IND)
Girls
Consequence: Match 27 (W)
England 1 – 5 Netherlands
Participant of the match: Frédérique Matla (NED)
Umpires: Tamara Leonard (AUS), Timothy Sheahan (AUS), Annelize Rostron (RSA-video)
Consequence: Match 28 (W)
India 0 – 4 Germany
Participant of the match: Sophia Schwabe (GER)
Umpires: Junko Wagatsuma (JPN), Bevan Nichol (NZL), Rawi Anbananthan (MAS-video)
Males
Consequence: Match 28 (M)
India 3 – 1 Eire
Participant of the match: Sukhjeet Singh (IND)
Umpires: Ahmed Elsayed (EGY), Wanri Venter (RSA), Timothy Sheahan (AUS-video)
Santiago del Estero Hockey Membership, Santiago del Estero, Argentina (ARG)
Girls
Consequence: Match 29 (W)
Australia 1 – 2 Belgium
Participant of the match: Delphine Marien (BEL)
Umpires: Maggie Giddens (USA), Darren Hubach (RSA), Raphaël Adrien (GER-video)
Males
Consequence: Match 27 (M)
Australia 2 – 2 Belgium (SO: 3-4)
Participant of the match: Loic van Doren (BEL)
Umpires: Sean Edwards (ENG), Sophie Bockelmann (GER), Raphaël Adrien (GER-video)
by FIH – Professional League
