France wrapped a gruelling but rewarding Pro League series in Potchestfstroom with a 2-1 win over South Africa. South African 19-year-old Cassiem Mustapha scored an absolute rocket of a goal in the first quarter to leave France chasing but a Blaise Rogeau redirection and a Victor Charlet penalty stroke sealed France’s third win of their series in South Africa.
Over in Argentina, the Leones put on another show in front of a full crowd to earn a 3-1 win over England. Lucas Martinez scored two goals, while Player of the Match Lucas Toscani scored the game’s opener. England’s Nicholas Bandurak scored on a penalty corner to deny Argentina the shutout. To see the current men’s FIH Pro League Standings, click here.
Argentina’s women’s side went on a scoring frenzy as five different scorers got on the board in a 5-2 win over England. The Leonas put on a skill showcase with some fantastic goals and incredible display of individual stick skills. Elena Rayer and Holly Hunt scored late in the game to finally reward England for their efforts. To see the current women’s FIH Pro League Standings, click here.
South Africa v France (men) – Potchestfstroom, University of North West (RSA)
Both teams traded opportunities in the early minutes, but it was Mustapha Cassiem who unleashed an absolute rocket to send South Africa up in just the eighth minute of play. Nicholas Spooner brought down an aerial at half field and made a brilliant reverse stick pass out of the air and across the field to Senzwesihle Ngubane. The ball advanced to Cassiem who turned quickly to his forehand and ripped a chip shot into the top corner, glove-side of Arthur Thieffry.
In the 18th minute Viktor Lockwood worked the baseline and earned France their fourth penalty corner. Keenan Horne ran down the Victor Charlet flick but play continued to a long corner. Lockwood sent the ball in and across the circle. The ball popped up off defender Daniel Bell’s stick but Blaise Rogeau confidently volleyed the ball out of the air in to earn France a tying goal.
Just before half time Dayaan Cassiem send a slicing path into the circle that was timed perfectly for brother Mustapha. Thieffry was out but Mustapha’s shot sailed wide across the open goal mouth.
Victor Charlet was on the start and end of France’s second goal as his long ball down the right was further deflected on to a streaking Timothée Clément. Clément took the right baseline but weathered a tough stick foul from Nduduzo Lembethe and a penalty stroke was awarded. Charlet finished stick side just over the back board for the 2-1 France lead.
Late in the third quarter France were again unsuccessful from the penalty corner unit as Spooner cleared the ball of the line as France looked for an option from the left side. Charlet’s goal was enough for France to hang on and grab another three points over South Africa.
Following the game Viktor Lockwood was named Player of the Match and commented: ‘We are very, very exhausted – eight games in 12 days I think. We used up so much energy in the game so we had a difficult game but before the game we said we just need to win to finish the competition (in South Africa). So, we are happy and we can have some rest now.’
Keenan Horne, captain of South Africa, said after the match: ‘Much better than our previous games but that’s what we are looking for – to be in the game right from the first to the end of the whistle… If we can be a little bit more clinical it could have been a different game. We just couldn’t get that goal but we created opportunities, which is great and a step in the right direction.’
Argentina v England (men & women) – Cenard, Buenos Aires (ARG)
Back at the Cenard, the Argentina men again dazzled the home crowd with some spectacular play to seal a 3-1 win over England. Lucas Toscani scored the game’s opening goal and was named Player of the Match, while Lucas Martinez added two more to Argentina’s total. England’s lone goal came from a penalty corner flick at the hands of Nicholas Bandurak.
Following the win, Toscani said: “I think it was a very difficult game for us. It was really intense but I’m glad we won. It was a different match (than their last game). I wouldn’t say it was better (or worse) but right now I’m just really happy for the win.”
Both teams traded chances in the first quarter but England struggled to get close enough to really test Argentina keeper Tomas Santiago. An errant clear from England allowed Martinez to set up Nicolas Keenan from close range but the upright shot went just wide of the England goal mouth. Argentina continued to create chaos for England. In the ninth minute Nicolas Cicileo sent a fantastically timed cross to Martinez who beat England’s Nicholas Park and finished on the back hand for a 1-0 Argentina lead.
Agustin Bugallo was awarded a yellow card after a tough challenge on David Goodfield and England pressed with the one-man advantage. Goodfield drew a penalty corner moments later but Bandurak’s flick was deflected wide by a charging Thomas Habif. Timothy Nurse’s hard work allowed England yet-another penalty corner but Bandurak’s flick sailed wide right.
The third quarter was all credit to England who pressed hard but really struggled to put shots on net. Finally on the penalty corner Bandurak was able to flick around Habif and beat Santiago glove side high to get England within one.
England showed much higher pace in this game but the one-on-one skills of Argentina were firing today and England just struggled to capitalize. In the final minutes of the game England keeper Oliver Payne headed to the bench in hopes of his team finding an equalizer. England were caught on their heels and a monster aerial sailed over England’s last player Timothy Nurse. Martinez was there to collect the bouncing ball and smash it into the empty net to give Argentina the 3-1 lead and final score.
England captain James Gall commented after the match: ‘It was a decent performance. I don’t think it was a 3-1 game. Argentina are clinical so they scored some great goals. It’s early days in this Pro League so that’s something we can move towards. We would have liked to have scored more of our chances but that will come.’
In the final game of the day, the Argentine women were ruthless in their tempo from the opening whistle. In just the fifth minute, Agustina Albertarrio pounced on a Holly Pearne-Webb turnover, drew two England defenders only to then find a streaking Maria Jose Granatto. A former FIH Rising Star of the Year, Granatto took a touch and blasted the ball on her backhand and just under the cross bar for a fantastic opening goal in her 150th international.
England did have their moments including a chance when Laura Unsworth found Elena Rayer deep in the Argentina circle. Rayer did well to beat Victora Sauze and send a pass that beat keeper Cristina Cosentino but Valentina Costa calmly collected the ball and worked it out of the circle.
Argentina went to work late in the second quarter with two penalty corner goals just two minutes apart. Costa trapped the ball upright off the injection and paced a pass in that took a deflection from Martina Triñanes for the 2-0 lead. Argentina’s third goal came after England keeper Amy Tennant left a soft rebound following a penalty corner flick. Eugenia Trinchinetti buried it on a reverse stick sweep from her knees for the 3-0 Argentina lead heading into half time.
Victoria Granatto made it 4-0 in the third quarter as she displayed some phenomenal stick skills up the right side only to be the eventual beneficiary of a bouncing cross. A back-hand finish from close range beat a frozen Tennant in the England goal.
In the final 15, England showed a different side – a paced, tenacious and gritty team that benefited from a two-goal quarter. Hannah Martin and Holly Hunt’s offensive efforts were outstanding. Martin on multiple occasions worked the Argentine defence and in the 48th minute blasted a shot that was then deflected up and in by Rayer.
A classic Argentina response came from Albertarrio, who went charging down in the next minute only to cut to her forehand past Giselle Ansley and smash one in off her right foot to bring Argentina up 5-1. In the other end, Rayer’s hard work on the right baseline allowed a goalmouth scramble to fall heavenly for Holly Hunt to get England’s second goal. England had a few other rushes heading into the final minutes but were unable to capitalize.
Following the game Player of the Match Trinincetti commented: “We are really happy because we won, of course. (England) are a really good team. We scored five times so we are really happy with that and we have to keep on training a lot to be much better each time. We train every weekend and improve ourselves and each other to be much player and we want to continue with that.’
FIH Pro League action continues on 21 February with the final game in Potchestfstroom as South Africa men host Germany. Play then heads to Bhubaneswar where India will host Spain men and women on February 26 and 27.
FIH Pro League – 20 February 2022
Potchestfstroom, University of North West (RSA)
Result: Men’s Match 24
South Africa 1, France 2
Player of the Match: Viktor Lockwood (FRA)
Umpires: Sean Rapaport (RSA), Ayden Shrives (RSA), Annelize Rostron (RSA-video)
Cenard, Buenos Aires (ARG)
Result: Men’s Match 22
Argentina 3, England 1
Player of the Match: Lucas Toscani (ARG)
Umpires: Diego Barbas (ARG), German Montes de Oca (ARG), Catalina Montesino (CHI-video)
Result: Women’s Match 13
Argentina 5, England 2
Player of the Match: Eugenia Trinchinetti (ARG)
Umpires: Irene Presenqui (ARG), Catalina Montesino (CHI), German Montes de Oca (ARG-video)
To see the complete FIH Hockey Pro League match schedule, please click here.
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