A magnificent display of goalkeeping by Nathalie Kubalski, playing on her home ground in Dusseldörf, kept an ever-threatening Spanish attack at bay and brought home three points for Germany for the first time this Pro League season. With Spain dominating possession and sometimes by-passing the German midfield and defence with ease, this was an outcome completely against the run of play.
Germany 3-0 Spain (women) Deutscher Sportklub, Dusseldorf (GER)
Germany took the lead in the first quarter through an excellent strike from Pia Maertens. The attacking midfielder turned at the top of the Spanish circle to create the room to fire a shot at goal. This was one of only a few German attacking opportunities as most of the first 30 minutes saw Spain on the attack and playing with energy and fervour. The only thing the Red Sticks were missing was a goal.
Spain created several very good scoring chances but they found the German goalkeeper, Nathalie Kublaski in sparkling form. On at least three occasions in the first half, the 'keeper was the only thing keeping her side in the lead.
If Kubalski was frustrating Adrian Lock's Spanish team in the first half, she put up an inpenetrable wall in the second half of the game. Spain were playing the ball through the centre of the pitch with an ease that will have given German Head Coach Valentin Altenburg headaches. Experienced players such as Lucia Jimenez, Begona Garcia and Belen Iglesias all found themselves foiled by the sheer brilliance of Kubalski as she dealt with overhead shots, deflections and one-on-one encounters.
While Germany were worryingly porous in defence, they were ruthless when on the attack. Die Danas only had four shots in the entire game but they scored from three of them. In the 36th minute, Lena Micheel was the beneficiary of a swift counterattack down the righthand side of the pitch. Maertens added her second with a classy strike while in full forward motion. The talented player dinked the ball up and over Melanie Garcia's foot. The goal moves her to third place in the FIH Pro League top scorer's table.
Spain, for their part, created plenty of chances and had a total of 14 shots on goal. While Valentin Altenburg said he was not pleased with the performance and will have plenty to work on, in terms of getting his players to keep possession of the ball and shore up their defence; for Adrian Lock, the difficulty will be unravelling why his team were unable to score depsite some quite mesmerising build-up play.
Germany have a chance to put things right when they face USA at the weekend; Spain will now have until May n which to make refinements to their performance. The Red Sticks' next opponent will be the in-form league leaders Argentina.
On receiving the Player of the Match award Nathalie Kubalski said: 'It is a crazy feeling. I had a good day today. Our performance was not so great but I was able to contribute. It means a lot to play in front of my friends at my home ground.
'Now we want to develop a few things and we will see what that gives us against the USA at the weekend.'
The result means Germany move to fourth in the FIH Pro League table, and Spain slip to sixth, behind Belgium.
To see the current women’s FIH Pro League Standings, click here.
To see the current men’s FIH Pro League Standings, click here.
FIH Pro League action continues at the Deutscher Sportklub, Düsseldorf on Saturday 26 March, when Germany women play host to the USA women's national team. This will be the USA's first FIH Pro League match this season. The same day, the German men's team will face Spain in the first of two matches. The following day (Sunday 27 March), both side meet again as Germany men play Spain and Germany women playing their second match against USA.
FIH Pro League – 23 March 2022
Deutscher Sportklub, Düsseldorf (GER)
Result: Women's Match 22
Germany 3, Spain 0
Player of the Match, Nathalie Kubalski (GER)
Umpires: Alison Keogh (IRL), Ben Goentgen (GER) Celine Martin-Schmets (BEL Video Umpire)
To see the complete FIH Hockey Pro League match schedule, please click here.
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