Four second half goals by four different scorers propelled the Germany men 4-2 over France in Potchestfstroom, South Africa. France scored two late goals to get within one but in pulling their goalkeeper conceded a late goal in what was their seventh game in 12 days. Goal scorer and Germany forward Thies Prinz was named Player of the Match.
Over at the Cenard, the Leones buried England 2-0 thanks to a Matias Rey goal in the fifth minute of play. Federico Monja’s deflection on a Maico Casella corner sealed the second goal of the game and Monja was honoured as Player of the Match. England had their chances both in free play and on several penalty corners but Sam Ward couldn’t beat Tomas Santiago, in goal for Argentina. To see the current men’s FIH Pro League Standings, click here.
The final game of the day Argentina’s Leonas were in fine form, dousing England 5-2. Two goals from penalty corner ace Agustina Gorzelany and two from Julieta Jankunas impressed the home fans. Despite the loss England’s Anna Toman was honoured for her 100th international while captain Hollie Pearne-Webb reached her 200th milestone. To see the current women’s FIH Pro League Standings, click here.
France v Germany (men) – Potchestfstroom, University of North West (RSA)
Four goals in the second half propelled Germany 4-2 over France in the teams’ second FIH Pro League meeting in Potchestfstroom, South Africa. Despite the score line France did well to climb back from a 3-0 deficit and get within one before pulling their goalkeeper in the final minute of play. Four different goal scorers tallied for Germany — Justus Weigand, Hannes Muller, Thies Prinz, also named Player of the Match, and Moritz Trompertz. Timothée Clément and Eliot Curty scored brilliant goals for the French, who have now battled their way through a gruelling seven games in 12 days.
A scoreless opening half was a fair result for the two sides that traded flurries of attack. Penalty corner ace Victor Charlet had just one chance in the game but his flick was saved by German goalkeeper Alexander Stadler. Germany had their chance on the set piece but a sloppy trap resulted in a scramble and the eventual Constantin Staib shot was saved by Arthur Thieffry.
Before half time Christopher Rühr and Mats Grambusch both had open blasts at goal but Thieffry was again there to deny both while gutsy diving by the French defenders cleared the ball from the circle.
Two goals, five minutes a part, in the third quarter silenced any consistent French possession. First, a beautiful tic-tac-toe play from Wellen to Staib drew Thieffry off this line and a slip to Weigland broke the deadlock. France started to tire as Germany moved the ball in the clinical style they are so well known for. An errant outlet pass resulted in a France turnover in midfield. Weigand was the beneficiary of the counterattack and his bouncing pass into the circle was well finished by Muller for a 2-0 Germany lead.
France had a stellar chance to get on the board near the end of the third quarter as Gaspard Baumgarten beat two German defenders and fed the ball to Blaise Rogeau. From the stroke mark Rogeau’s blast was saved by Stadler.
Germany continued to advance as Clément was dispossessed in midfield and that sprung a give-and-go play for Rühr to set up Prinz for a third Germany goal. Clément was not shaken and redeemed himself less than a minute later as he brilliantly finished a Victor Charlet pass into the circle to get France within two. Then, Rogeau’s touch on a Benjamie Marque pass into the circle popped the ball through to speedster Curty who finished with a sneaky flick to bring France within one, down 3-2. France head coach Frederic Soyez pulled Thieffry looking to push for the tie but Germany were quick to capitalize and Trompertz paced a back-hand shot into the empty net to secure the 4-2 victory and bring Germany’s total to nine points won in South Africa.
Germany’s Mats Grambusch spoke to his team’s the slow start but resulting win: ‘Similar thing to (last game), we didn’t start as good as we wanted to. Every time we control the match and play structured we are a lot better than France but they defended well and they had some counter attacks and we lost the ball in midfield a lot. That’s why (France) kept believing and staying in the game.”
Argentina v England (men & women) – Cenard, Buenos Aires (ARG)
An early goal for Los Leones turned in to the eventual game winner in the 2-0 Argentina win over England. A quick free hit and some confusion amongst the England defence line allowed Nicolas Keenan’s touch to find Matias Rey. Rey cut across the top of the circle and quickly turned to blast the ball towards goal. An unfortunate touch from defender Liam Sanford beat England keeper James Mazarelo for the 1-0 Argentina lead.
Both teams had their chance on penalty corners. Argentina’s Jose Tolini was denied by a fantastic out-stretched boot save from Mazarelo. England’s Sam Ward had a flick denied and the rebound shot from David Condon was also denied by keeper Tomas Santiago.
In the 35th minute, Argentina’s Agustin Bugallo was awarded a yellow card after a physical challenge on Ward and England was able to capitalize with a series of pressuring attacks. Ward had a chance to draw level for England but his low penalty corner flick was steered away on the line by the Argentine post player.
Liam Sanford was critical running down two Argentina penalty corners in the third quarter. The second of which Sanford sprung a counterattack when the ball was miss trapped. David Goodfield did well to secure the circle entry but England couldn’t muster a shot.
On a third penalty corner Argentina again miss trapped the ball but the composed Maico Casella managed to still get a low pass towards goal. Federico Monja’s reverse stick redirected the ball up and into the mesh for a 2-0 Argentina lead.
Timothy Nurse was brought down just outside the Argentine circle to allow England another penalty corner chance with 10 minutes to go in the game. Ward’s flick went wide left of Santiago’s goal and the frustration showed. England continued to pressure as Sanford had another chance for Argentina near the end of the quarter but his back-hand shot went wide of the near post. Another England penalty corner chance late in the game was cleared by Santiago and that was how the story went. Argentina’s early goals were enough to secure the win and another three points in their Pro League tour.
Following the game Player of the Match Frederico Monja said: ‘I think it was a very difficult game – very tough. We had to work really hard every quarter. It was a very physical team so it was very good result. For some moments of the game we lost the ball very quickly and our finish perhaps needs to be better in the end.’
In the women’s game two goals from each of Agustina Gorzelany and Julieta Jankunas powered Argentina 5-2 over England. Captain Hollie Pearne-Webb, playing in her 200th match, buried a penalty corner goal of her own to leave England trailing 2-1 at half time. A late effort from Elena Rayer again got England within one in the third quarter, trailing 3-1, but the Leonas went to work and put away two more in the fourth for a dominating performance.
Gorzelany wasted no time putting the Leonas on the board with a dragflick into the bottom corner just five minutes into the game. The creativity and speed of the Leonas, playing in front of packed stands at the Cenard, made lots of work for the visiting English side and in the 13th minute Jankunas doubled the Argentina lead. Jankunas thought she found her second just before first-quarter time expired, but the back-hand rip was saved by keeper Sabbie Heesh.
Argentina continued to dazzle in the second quarter as Eugenia Trinchinetti’s deflection rang the post in the 22nd minute but England got to work in the other end moments later. On their third penalty corner attempt Pearne-Webb buried a shot to get England within one. England started to show some confidence in their attacking build up and just before half time Fiona Crackles charged up the right side and found Alexandra Malzer dangerously available in the circle. Belen Succi was up to the task to deny England agin.
The Leonas continued to control the tempo and Delinfa Thome made it 3-1 in the third quarter. England rallied to find a response. Elena Rayer capitalized off a Barbara Dichiara mishap and unleashed a lethal back-hand shot to put England again within one, trailing 3-2.
In the final quarter Gorzelany scored her fifth drag flick of the series to double Argentina’s lead. Some strong pressure from Holly Hunt and Hannah Martin looked promising for another England goal but the Leonas went unphased and Jankunas was there for another insurance marker in the final minutes of the game.
FIH Pro League – 19 February 2022
Potchestfstroom, University of North West (RSA)
Result: Men’s Match 21
France 2, Germany 4
Player of the Match: Thies Prinz (GER)
Umpires: Sean Rapaport (RSA), Annelize Rostron (RSA), Wanri Venter (RSA-video)
Cenard, Buenos Aires (ARG)
Result: Women’s Match 11
Argentina 5 , England 2
Player of the Match: Maria Jose Granatto (ARG)
Umpires: Catalina Montesino (CHI), Irene Presenqui (ARG), Diego Barbas (ARG-video)
Result: Men’s Match 20
Argentina 2, England 0
Player of the Match: Frederico Monja (ARG)
Umpires: German Montes de Oca (ARG), Diego Barbas (ARG), Irene Presenqui (ARG-video)
To see the complete FIH Hockey Pro League match schedule, please click here.
Keep up to date with all the latest news on the FIH Hockey Pro League via the Watch.Hockey app, event website and through FIH social media channels - Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
#FIHProLeague
#HockeyInvites
