"VAN" (Sports Desk - 15.06.2025) :: A jam-packed day of FIH Hockey Pro League action saw matches played across three venues – in Amsterdam, Antwerp and London.
It proved to be a good day for the Belgians and Australians with wins for both their men’s and women’s teams.
The Dutch women continued their dominance in Amsterdam while their men’s side had to be content with just one point for a shootout win.
The other victories of the day went to Argentina’s women while Germany edged out England’s men in a shootout.
(Women's) Australia 3 – 2 India
Australia were made to work hard for their 3-2 win over India in London.
India had the only clear chance of the opening quarter, but after the first break Australia took the lead when Courtney Schonell scrambled a goal from close range in the 16th minute. Lexie Pickering then bagged her first international goal in the 22nd and Australia led 2-0 at half time.
The Australians tightened their grip on the match with Tatum Stewart's 35th-minute penalty stroke, but Deepika kept India's hopes alive with a 44th-minute drag flick. India found an extra gear in the final period, and Neha's 52nd-minute penalty quarter rebound set the stage for a close finish. The Indians then dominated the final quarter and gave themselves plenty of chances, but Australia dug deep to hang on for the win.
Alice Arnott was named player of the match for Australia and said: "We didn't make it easy for ourselves in the end, but I think it was a hard-fought effort from all of us today."
(Women's) Belgium 4 – 2 Germany
Hosts Belgium restarted their FIH Hockey Pro League campaign in Antwerp with a solid 4-2 win over neighbours Germany.
Skipper Lisa Nolte gave Germany an early lead with a neatly lofted tap-in from open play. Stephanie Vanden Borre then bagged two quick goals for Belgium from a penalty stroke and a drag flick, but Johanna Hachenberg immediately restored parity with a 13th-minute field goal. The scores were locked 2-2 at half time.
The Belgians gradually established more control as the game went on, and Michelle Struijk put them in front with a 48th-minute tap-in. Noa Schreurs then rounded off a good Belgian performance with a close-range finish in the 52nd minute.
Belgium's Michelle Struijk received the player of the match award and said: "I think a nice start of our Pro League month. I think we did some things well, but I think also still a lot of things to improve, which is normal. It's the first time again with the group so it was nice."
(Women's) Netherlands 3 – 1 China
The Netherlands extended their lead at the top of the table with a solid 3-1 win over China, who remain one of the top contenders.
A goalless first quarter was evenly contested, with China possibly creating slightly better opportunities. The Dutch dominated the second period and were rewarded when Freeke Moes opened the scoring with a 28th-minute field goal.
The Netherlands scored two more quick goals in the 35th minute, Fay van der Elst getting a good deflection from open play and Yibbi Jansen adding a drag flick. Jinzhuang Tan then found a goal for China with a 54th-minute penalty corner rebound, but the Dutch kept a firm grip on proceedings to secure the result.
The Netherlands' Freeke Moes received the player of the match award and said: "It feels really good to be back with the girls, and also this crowd, and I think a good win, so I'm very happy."
(Women's) England 1 – 3 Argentina
Argentina made the most of their chances in a 3-1 win over hosts England in London.
Agustina Gorzelany fired the Argentinians ahead with a sensational ninth-minute drag flick into the roof of the net, but Katie Curtis responded with her first international goal for England, pouncing on a loose ball three minutes later. Gorzelany then completed her brace with a 19th-minute drag flick for Argentina to lead 2-1 at half time.
The South Americans created better opportunities in a goalless third quarter, but with neither team finding a goal deep into the final period, the result was still up for grabs. England pulled their goalkeeper off to chase a draw, but with two players serving suspensions in the final minute, it was Argentina that had the final word. Julieta Jankunas beat the defence and slammed her reverse shot into the empty goal.
Agostina Alonso of Argentina was named player of the match and said: "The main point was the whole team today. We run a lot, we defend a lot, and we were really smart in the offensive D, so this is for the team, and I am really happy about the three points."
(Men's) Australia 3 - 2 India
Australia fought back from two goals down to steal a late 3-2 win against India in Antwerp.
There were plenty of chances in the opening half as both teams probed the circle, but only India managed to find the back of the net. Abhishek beat both his close marker and the goalkeeper with a sharp slip under the shoulder from the top of the circle in the eighth minute. Both goalkeepers had plenty of work to do, although Suraj Karkera's exceptional save stood out in keeping India 1-0 up at half time.
India stole the ball off an Australian defensive blunder to gift Abhishek his second goal in the 35th minute. But the Australians then bounced back to dominate the third quarter, with Karkera increasingly busy in goal for India. He made another brilliant save to deny the Kookaburras, fully extending his right foot to clip a drag flick wide.
Nathan Ephraums eventually opened Australia's account when he pounced on a loose ball off the goalkeeper's pads in the 42nd minute. The momentum was with the Kookaburras through the final period, but a combination of sharp goalkeeping and narrow misses kept them trailing deep into the match. Joel Rintala finally breached the Indian defence with his 56th-minute drag flick, and Tom Craig stole the win with a 60th-minute penalty corner deflection.
Australia's Tom Craig was named as the player of the match and said: "I'm just happy to be back, really. Always grateful for the opportunity to play for Australia. It's a new group, really exciting, and I've been welcomed back so graciously, and it means everything.
(Men's) England 2 – 2 Germany (SO: 3 - 4)
England came from behind twice in their 2-2 draw in London, but it was the Germans who held their nerve to win the shootout 4-3.
The first half was hotly contested, but only a Benedikt Schwarzhaupt drag flick for Germany in the 13th minute separated the teams at half time.
England looked dangerous in the third quarter, and Zachary Wallace eventually equalised with a 38th-minute penalty stroke. Linus Müller then restored Germany's lead briefly with a 48th-minute penalty corner deflection, but Stuart Rushmere levelled matters immediately with a drag flick. There was plenty of excitement but no further goals were scored, and the match went to a shootout where Germany prevailed.
The player of the match went to Germany's Michel Struthoff, who said: "I think we did a really good job. In the third quarter, I think we were a little bit down, but then we got our heads up, came back, and we are such a young team so it was a really good game for us"
(Men's) Belgium 5 – 1 Ireland
Hosts Belgium looked strong in their 5-1 win over Ireland, in which Matthew Nelson earned his 100th cap for the Irish, but the score could have been enormous as they led the stats with 29 circle penetrations to eight.
Tom Boon needed just seven minutes to find the back of the net for Belgium, beating his marker to a ball floated across goal for a smash in. Thibeau Stockbroekx then reacted fastest to a rebound off the pads to tap one in, and Boon added a drag flick for a 3-0 Belgian lead at half time.
Louis Rowe scrambled a 34th-minute goal off the keeper's pads to claw one back for Ireland, but it was pretty much all Belgium. A field goal from Roman Duvekot in the 42nd minute, and Tom Boon's tap-in to complete his hat-trick in the 50th wrapped up the scoring after Jamie Carr's absolute blinder in goal for Ireland kept the scoreline respectable.
The player of the match went to Belgium's Tom Boon, who said: "I think we put real pressure on them, especially in the first quarter, won a lot of balls in the midfield, created a lot of chances. We couldn't score that much, but in the end it's a nice win. It's so nice, I feel younger than ever playing with those young guys."
(Men's) Netherlands 1 – 1 Argentina (SO: 4 – 2)
The Netherlands had to come from behind in their 1-1 draw with Argentina, and managed to then claim an extra point by winning the shootout 4-2.
The first half could hardly have been more closely contested, and even the tightest of video referrals by the umpire was inconclusive as Bautista Capurro snuck Argentina 1-0 ahead within a split second of the half-time hooter.
Tijmen Reyenga drew the Netherlands level with his 36th-minute field goal, and Jorrit Croon pulled off an outstanding save on the left post to keep it all square. The Dutch created plenty of opportunities as the match wore on, and Tomas Santiago had to be at his best in goal for Argentina to deny them. The scores remained level at full time, and the frustrated Dutch held their nerve to win the shootout.
The player of the match went to Floris Middendorp, who said: "It's a tough game. It's a hard opponent. They used to sit low and defend hard, but now they are also pressing a lot, they are very aggressive, so it was a little bit of a change, but I think we managed quite well. We just should have scored more goals."
Current Hero Top Scorers:
Women – Yibbi Jansen (NED) (17 goals)
Men – Tom Boon (BEL) (17 goals)
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