It was an exciting day of Pro League action as the No. 13 world ranked France toppled the No. 3-ranked Indian side in an exciting 5-2 game in South Africa. While the France defence were outstanding, it was the firing offence that put on a show. India struggled to convert on penalty corners and could only tally from the stroke mark. In the game following, Dennis Warmerdam buried two fantastic goals to lead the Netherlands to a 6-2 victory and pick up Player of the Game honours. The Dutch were in fine form all game, but the South Africans weathered the storm and never backed down, putting two goals in past the mighty Netherlands. To see the current men’s FIH Pro League Standings, click here.
Over in Buenos Aires, both the Argentina men and women needed fourth-quarter goals to enjoy home victories in front of a packed crowd at the Cenard. The Leonas won 3-1 over Belgium and while the score line flattered the home side, the Belgian defence were stingy through the opening three quarters. Eugenia Trinchinetti scored twice for Argentina, while Maria Granatto buried the game-winner. To see the current women’s FIH Pro League Standings, click here.
In the final game of the day, Argentina and Belgium men both scored early in the first quarter only to battle it out end-to-end through to the final frame. A penalty stroke in the dying minutes of the game was insanely finished by Maico Casella to give the Leones a 2-1 win over the reigning Olympic champs.
France v India (men) – Potchestfstroom, University of North West (RSA)
It was a very different match up today between the Olympic bronze medallists, India, and a renewed France side. France’s impenetrable defence powered the team to a 5-2 win, after taking Netherlands to a 2-2 tie just days earlier. Victor Charlet lead in scoring with a pocket of set pieces, while Viktor Lockwood, Charles Masson and Timothée Clément also got on the scoresheet. Penalty strokes from Jarmanpreet Singh and Harmanpreet Singh were all India could muster despite 13 penalty corner attempts.
France bench boss Frederic Soyez said before the first game, a 5-0 loss, his team had landed just 48 hours earlier and had just two training sessions. Now we would see the real France.
Following today’s win France captain Gaspard Baumgarten said: 'After our first game we did a lot of video analysis because a lot went wrong. So, we create a game plan to do better. The most successful part of that game plan was the defence. I think the defence was terrific today.'
After an opening quarter with little offensive action, a long aerial ball sprung Clement on half-field a streak and Amit Rohidas was unable to contain him. The resulting penalty stroke was buried by Charlet to give France the opening goal. India responded within the minute. A brilliant midfield transfer found the stick of Jarmanpreet Singh whose pass intended for Sumit ricocheted off defender Stanislas Branicki’s stick and in to level the game.
It was a fast-paced and energetic third and fourth quarter that included several India penalty corners. The France defensive battery was outstanding with Arthur Thieffry getting a pad on the few chances that did squeeze past the brave and charging Charlet.
France found their go-ahead goal in the 35th minute when Baumgarten’s quick free pass found its way to Lockwood on the left baseline. Lockwood crafted his way through the Indian defence and blasted a tight-angled shot out of the air and through the legs of Sreejesh.
Speaking of his goal, Player of the Match Viktor Lockwood said: 'It was crazy, I don't really strike on anything but my reverse, so that was a surprise. We had a difficult first game but now we are in the competition. We brought a lot of energy which made up for lack of prep.'
India seemed to be doing everything they needed to find an equalizer, but their penalty corner unit could not find a way. Charlet ran down three-straight Harmanpreet flicks that lead to France pushing forward for a penalty corner of their own. Clement’s low flick in the 48th minute was effortlessly redirected in by Masson to send panic to the India bench. On India’s 13th penalty corner attempt, a miss trap at the top of the circle sent France on a charging counterattack. Baumgarten earned the penalty corner, and it was none other than Charlet whose rocket of a flick soared over the subbed-in Pathak for a 4-2 France lead. It was chaos for India as a sideline turnover led to a playful passing play between Francois Blaise Rogeau, Francois Goyet and eventual scorer Clement to seal the 5-2 victory.
Speaking ahead of the game, India head coach Graham Reid said that France would be posing a very different threat than in their previous encounter. How right he was. France now enjoy their first three points in the Pro League, while India are left to suffer with their first loss.
South Africa v Netherlands (men) – Potchestfstroom, University of North West (RSA)
The Netherlands dominated the game to a 6-2 victory over hosts, South Africa, in the second game of Pro League play today. Dennis Warmerdam buried two goals and was named Player of the Match as the Dutch showed fine form in their build up all night, while it was their final moves as they entered the circle that were as if someone was pulling a trigger – piercing and direct.
After the game Warmerdam said: 'I preferred my first goal of the two, it was great counter and all I had to do was tap it in. [Referring to his recovery from cancer] It is a medical miracle that I am standing here.'
To open the scoring, Jorrit Croon’s aerial into the circle was mishandled between South Africa’s Daniel Bell and keeper Estiaan Kriek. Thijs van Dam scooped up the loose ball and put it in the untended net for a 1-0 Netherlands lead just before the first quarter break.
Imre Vos found Thierry Brinkman’s reverse stick in the circle and the brilliant deflection doubled the Dutch lead. A rare lapse on defence gave South Africa their first penalty corner in the 26th minute and Leneal Jackson’s flick beat Maurits Visser glove side to cut the Dutch lead in half. South Africa’s Nicholas Spooner had a chance to tie the game from the stroke mark but his flick hit the bar. Van Dam then set up Warmerdam for a textbook deflection in tight for a third Netherlands goal and a 3-1 lead at half time.
Warmerdam blasted home his second of the game in the 39th minute. A Kriek rebound fell perfectly for Warmerdam whose reverse stick one-timed the ball out of the air for the 4-2 lead. Tim Swaen’s penalty corner flick and Tjep Hoedemakers rebound goal, both in the fourth quarter, further cemented the Dutch victory. Credit to South Africa who fought until the dying seconds as Matthew De Sousa’s blast gave the hosts a consolation goal.
South African captain Keenan Horne said after the match: 'It was about small margins. If we had scored the penalty stroke it may have been a different game. But it was much better than our previous two games. We have gone back to basics and defended well. Defence is the cornerstone of our play.’
Argentina v Belgium (women & men) – Cenard, Buenos Aires (ARG)
The Leonas were out in fine form as they dropped Belgium 3-1 in front of a roaring home crowd. Eugenia Trinchinetti’s pair of goals lead the way for the home side, while Maria Granatto, recently Pan American Cup’s Player of the Tournament, netted the game-winner. Skipper Alix Geniers was the lone Belgian scorer in the match.
After the game Trinchinetti said: ‘We think that the key was that we kept on trying to play our game. We know that Belgium is a really good team and their defence is really good so we are going to see the [video] of this match and prepare for tomorrow.’
Trinchinetti opened the scoring in the 10th minute on a back-hand shot from the baseline that was deflected past keeper Elena Sotgiu by defender Vanessa Blockmans. Belgium was able to respond minutes later on a penalty corner. Stephanie vanden Borre’s low drag was perfectly redirected up into the mesh by Gerniers to level the game 1-1. The game continued to trade opportunities despite possession tipping in favour of Argentina. The Leonas thought they found their go-ahead but vanden Borre was on the line to bravely steer away an Agustina Gorzelany drag flick before half time.
There were several exchanges of brilliance through the third quarter. Belgium defence were gritty in their effort and stood up well to the crafty Argentine offence.
It was not until the final quarter that Argentina was able to breathe. Granatto lifted the Leonas 2-1 as she deflected a Gorzalany penalty corner flick in the 55th minute. Trinchinetti sealed the win in the 58th minute as she buried the ball that rebounded high off Aisling D’Hooghe’s glove.
After the game Gerniers said: ‘The three first quarters were quite okay but then we let go a bit in the last quarter and I think we are quite disappointed about the result. We need to see the video and see what we can do better and tomorrow is another day and another game.’
In the men’s game, first quarters of each side kept the score level through most of the game. Agustin Bugallo opened the scoring for Argentina in the seventh minute when he smashed a back-hand shot on a pass from Lucas Martinez. Belgium quickly found a response. Cedric Charlier sent a booming back-hand pass across the crowded Argentine goal mouth for a sliding Sebastien Dockier to deflect at the far post.
The teams played exciting, fast-paced hockey through the next two quarters but neither could find the next goal.
Loic van Doren was called to action late in the fourth to save a blast from Martin Ferreiro after Argentina hit the post on a penalty corner seconds before.
With three minutes to go Ferreiro was pushed over by Arthur de Sloover in the Belgian circle. A video review upgraded the penalty corner call to an Argentina penalty stroke. Maico Casella delivered a ridiculous flick that rang both sides of the net to give Argentina the eventual 2-1 win. This was the first win for Argentina over Belgium since the final of the 2016 Olympic Games.
Speaking after the game Argentina’s Agustin Bugallo was named Player of the Match and said: ‘It was a really nice result in Argentina with [a home crowd] and we are very happy with that. I think we are improving as a team but we have another fight for tomorrow. We have to rest tonight.’
India-Netherlands (Women) postponed
The Dutch Hockey Association (KNHB) has informed FIH that their medical committee has issued a negative advice for intercontinental travel. Following this advice, the Dutch women’s team will not travel to Bhubaneswar, India, for the upcoming FIH Hockey Pro League scheduled on 19 and 20 February 2022. These matches are therefore postponed. As always in such cases, FIH has invited both National Associations – KNHB and Hockey India – to find alternative dates.
FIH Pro League – 12 February 2021
Potchestfstroom, University of North West (RSA)
Result: Men’s Match 11
France 5, India 2
Player of the Match: Viktor Lockwood (FRA)
Umpires: Sean Rapaport (RSA), Annelize Rostron (RSA), Ayden Shrives (RSA-video)
Result: Men’s Match 13
South Africa 2, Netherlands 6
Player of the Match: Dennis Warmerdam (NED)
Umpires: Ayden Shrives (RSA), Wanri Venter (RSA), Sean Rapaport (RSA-video)
Cenard, Buenos Aires (ARG)
Result: Women’s Match 9
Argentina 3, Belgium 1
Player of the Match: Agustina Albertarrio (ARG)
Umpires: Irene Presenqui (ARG), Catalina Montesino (CHI), Diego Barbas (ARG-video)
Result: Men’s Match 12
Argentina 2, Belgium 1
Player of the Match: Agustin Bugallo (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.
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