Tom Boon had another outstanding Pro League performance putting in three goals, including scoring his 300th international, to propel Belgium 5-3 over hosts Argentina and top the league goal scoring tables. The Leonas gave up a two-goal lead early to concede a 5-3 loss to the visiting Belgian Red Panthers. Earlier in the day in Bhubaneswar, India’s men’s team avenged their loss to Germany a day before with a 1-0 victory while Spain’s men also turned the tables on England. In the day’s other fixture, Spain’s women notched up their fourth win on the trot with victory over India.

(Men’s) Spain 4 – 1 England

Spain overturned Tuesday’s shootout loss against England with a convincing 4-1 win, their first regulation-time victory against the English since August 2019.

The Red Sticks soaked up tremendous early pressure before finding ways to pick England apart through the first quarter. The opening goal came in the 9th minute when Joaquin Menini unleashed his exquisite reverse strike after Spain moved the ball quickly across the top of the circle. Spain went on to dominate in midfield and Borja Lacalle doubled their lead just before half time, his diving slap from close range finding the roof of the net.

England looked to be working their way back into the contest at the start of the third quarter, but Spain rocked them back in the 37th minute when Pepe Cunill’s drag flick gave them a 3-0 lead. Nicolas Alvarez all but confirmed the result in the 49th minute, collecting his own rebound from open play and slotting it into goal. Matthew Ramshaw grabbed a consolation goal for the English a minute later, but it was too little too late.

Spain’s Joaquin Menini received the player of the match award and said: “We wanted to make up for yesterday. I think yesterday we played a good match but we couldn’t win it, and I think we did a great performance today so we are really happy.”

(Men’s) India 1 – 0 Germany

India also reversed their loss to Germany on Tuesday with an engaging 1-0 victory. The scoreline fails to reflect the thrilling spectacle, filled with numerous masterful circle entries, countless near misses, and impressive defensive displays on both ends of the pitch.

Gurjant Singh got India off to the perfect start in the 4th minute, pouncing on a loose ball in front of goal to secure an early lead. At the other end of the pitch, goalkeeper Krishan Bahadur Pathak made a sharp save for India before the match settled into an even contest.

Germany probed continuously in the opening stages of the third quarter, but India hung on and created some late opportunities of their own. The stage was set for a tense finish, and the Germans put the home fans through the wringer. Wave after wave of attack, including five penalty corners, were repelled by a vigilant Indian defence led by the impenetrable Suraj Karkera.

The player of the match was awarded to India’s Amit Rohidas who said: “It was a very good game. We had great communication on defence. Also defence during penalty corners and tackling overall were on point. After Germany took their keeper off it was important to maintain our structure because we knew they’d naturally dominate possession and create chances.”

(Men’s) Argentina 3 – 5 Belgium

Argentina opened the scoring late in the first quarter after a quick free hit and counterattack. Agentina’s Bautista Capurro surged into the circle, turned his defender, and slipped the ball to Lucas Toscani, who calmly lifted it over a sliding Loic van Doren. Belgium ansrwered minutes later when Tom Boon converted a penalty stroke—his 300th international goal—after Matias Andreotti’s hard stick challenge on Thomas Crols was penalized in front of the Argentine net.

Boon struck again in the second quarter, finishing a Tobias Biekens pass that the Argentine defense failed to clear. His diving flick beat Tomas Santiago, giving Belgium a 2-1 lead. Argentina had a chance to equalize on a penalty corner just before halftime, but a mistrap at the top of the circle squandered the opportunity.

Belgium extended their lead early in the third when Crols pulled down an aerial on the baseline and set up Guillaume Hellin, who finished a second effort on the backhand to make it 3-1. The Red Lions struck again as Biekens carved through the defense and found Boon, who unselfishly slipped the ball to Thibeau Stockbroekx for Belgium’s fourth goal.

The final minutes saw a flurry of goals. Boon completed his hat trick after a smooth counter-attack passing play. Argentina fought back with two goals. Thomas Habif finishing a loose ball following a blocked penalty corner and Capurro blasted a one-timer off another penalty corner rebound. Despite the late push, Argentina fell 5-3 to a clinical Belgian side.

Belgium’s Tom Boon was named player of the match and said: “It’s really nice and another milestone for us. It’s a great achievement but I am just proud of what we achieved today as a group. It was a slippery start but at the end we just managed to get through Argentina. It was really and really tough but I think it was a very good game.”

(Women’s) India 0 – 1 Spain

Spain completed back-to-back wins over India with a narrow 1-0 victory, extending their winning streak to four games.

A goalless first half was evenly contested with India threatening initially before Spain came back at them. Opportunities were squandered by both teams, Spain in particular struggling with their penalty corner routine.

The Spanish stepped up to boss the third quarter without earning any reward from numerous circle entries and five penalty corners, but they eventually broke the deadlock in the 49th minute. It was a moment of individual brilliance from Marta Segu, outpacing the Indian defence on a 50-meter run before smashing her reverse shot through the stranded Savita in goal. India finished the game strongly, pulling their goalkeeper off to chase a result. They created some chances from open play and earned a penalty corner with 11 seconds left on the clock, but the shot went wide, much to the disappointment of the home fans.

Florencia Amundson was named as Spain’s player of the match and said: “It was a tough game, India is always hard to play, also in their country. We fight until the end and winning four games in a row is amazing. We’re a team that is growing, that is starting from zero, and I think we’re going to keep fighting because this is the spirit the team has.”

(Women’s) Argentina 2 – 3 Belgium

The opening half was a performance of set pieces as Agustina Gorzelany buried two nearly-identical penalty corner flicks over the head of the Belgian post player to give the Leonas a confident 2-0 lead in the second half. Argentina controlled most of the possession and forward movement in the early periods. Belgium picked it up late in the second to earn their first penalty corner chances. Ambre Ballenghien had her low delivery blocked, while Stephanie Vanden Borre delivered a booming drag to beat Cristina Cosentino’s right boot and cut the deficit to one. Belgium trailed Argentina 2-1 at half time.

The Red Panthers wasted no time drawing level as Charlotte Englebert’s cross-field aerial was beautifully taken down in the circle by skipper Alix Gerniers. The resulting sweep skipped under Cosentino to bring the teams equal at 2-2, just three minutes into the third quarter. Back the other way, Vanden Borre was called to bat a ball off the goal line after a lobbing penalty corner deflection from Maria Granatto.

A third Belgian goal came on yet-another Vanden Borre penalty corner. The flick was expertly lifted to beat Cosentino stick side and give the Red Panthers the 3-2 lead. Belgium did well to manage the tempo outside of a final offensive push from Argentina in the final minutes.

Belgium’s Michelle Struijk was named player of the match and said: “I think it was a very good first game. We have a new new group and new staff here so it’s a good start to a good build up. I think we can improve. In the last three minutes we made it a bit more exciting than we should have. So we need to build up and keep the ball a little bit more and give up less penalty corners.”

Current Hero Top Scorers:

Women – Freeke Moes (NED), Yibbi Jansen (NED), Jinzhuang Tan (CHN) (4 goals)

Men –Tom Boon (BEL) (11 goals)

To see the current standings in the FIH Hockey Pro League, click here.

FIH Hockey Pro League – 19 February 2025

Kalinga Hockey Stadium, Bhubaneswar, India (IND)

Women

Result: Match 24 (W)

India 0 - 1 Spain

Player of the match: Florencia Amundson (ESP)

Umpires: Tamara Leonard (AUS), Ahmed Elsayed (EGY), Wanri Venter (RSA-video)

Result: Match 25 (W)

Argentina 2 – 3 Belgium

Player of the match: Michelle Struijk (BEL)

Umpires: Sophie Bockelmann (GER), Maggie Giddens (USA), Sean Edwards (ENG-video)

Men

Result: Match 23 (M)

Spain 4 - 1 England

Player of the match: Joaquin Menini (ESP)

Umpires: Timothy Sheahan (AUS), Wanri Venter (RSA), Junko Wagatsuma (JPN-video)

Result: Match 24 (M)

India 1 – 0 Germany

Player of the match: Amit Rohidas (IND)

Umpires: Rawi Anbananthan (MAS), Annelize Rostron (RSA), Bevan Nichol (NZL-video)

Result: Match 25 (M)

Argentina 3 - 5 Belgium

Player of the match: Tom Boon (BEL)

Umpires: Raphaël Adrien (GER), Darren Hubach (RSA), Sean Edwards (ENG-video)