Germany’s men made the most of their scoring opportunities in their first match of the Bhubaneswar leg of the FIH Hockey Pro League on Tuesday, notching up a dominant victory over hosts India. It was also not the best of days for India’s women who squandered a lead on two occasions and eventually went down to Spain. In the day’s other fixture, England’s men were also guilty of giving up their lead against Spain, but they rallied for an extra point by winning the ensuing shootout.

(Men’s) England 2 – 2 Spain (SO: 1 – 0)

England squandered a two-goal lead in the fourth quarter in their 2-2 draw with Spain but fought back to clinch the shootout and remain unbeaten in the competition so far.

The first half was evenly contested with England creating the better chances from open play while Spain earned more penalty corners. Jacob Payton fired England ahead with his first international goal in the 13th minute, getting in behind the Spanish defence and making a first-time strike on the run.

Sam Ward doubled England’s lead in the 32nd minute with a trademark drag flick, his 138th international goal taking him past Ashley Jackson at the top of the England and GB record books. The clock ran down on the third quarter without further goals, but the match was still very much alive heading into the final quarter.

The Red Sticks hit back in the 49th minute when Nicolas Alvarez finished well off a long pass through the midfield. The momentum then swung in their favour when Bruno Font levelled the scores with an exceptional running deflection with seven minutes left on the clock. There were clear scoring opportunities at both ends of the pitch in an exciting finish, but neither team could find the winning goal and the match went to a shootout where England prevailed.

England goalkeeper James Mazarelo was named the player of the match and said: “I think we’re probably initially a little bit frustrated that we couldn’t get over the line in normal time, but then credit to the boys, it’s often really difficult to turn it around in a shootout after you’ve conceded two goals in the last quarter.”

(Women’s) India 3 – 4 Spain

Spain came from behind twice in their exciting 4-3 win over hosts India.

The Indians bossed the opening stages of a fast-paced first half, but it took 19 minutes before Baljeet Kaur opened the scoring with a deflection from open play. Sofia Rogoski responded almost immediately for Spain with a well-directed backstick shot from close range, and Estel Petchamé then fired them to a 2-1 lead with her 25th-minute penalty corner strike.

There was plenty of action in an end-to-end third quarter. India put Spain under incredible pressure with a high press, earning Rana Sakshi a goal on debut when she dispossessed Spain outside their circle. The Spanish had some success in escaping the press, but it was Rutaja Dadaso Pisal who scrapped hard in the goalmouth to put India 3-2 ahead as the clock ran down on the quarter.

India paid a heavy price for two lapses in concentration early in the fourth quarter. First Petchamé completed her brace for Spain in the 49th minute, playing to the whistle and levelling matters from a penalty corner rebound. Then Spanish captain Lucia Jimenez snatched the lead from a quickly taken free hit at the top of the circle. The hosts pulled their goalkeeper off and threw everything at chasing a goal, but they were impatient and turned over too much possession unnecessarily.

The player of the match was awarded to Spain’s Lucia Jimenez who said: “We are a young team, new team, and our goal was to just grow and keep fighting and just gain some points and I think we did a really good game. We had some mistakes and they made us pay for that because they are really a great team. I think it was an entertaining match.”

(Men’s) India 1 – 4 Germany

Germany took their chances in a comprehensive 4-1 win over hosts India who couldn’t capitalise when they were in the ascendancy.

The first half was played at a blistering pace with high-quality chances in both circles. India looked better in the opening exchanges, but the Germans claimed the lead through Florian Sperling in the 7th minute. India replied in the 13th with a series of neat passes in the circle for Gurjant Singh to tap in, but Thies Prinz scrambled one out of the air to restore the Germans’ lead within a minute. Play ebbed and flowed through the rest of the half and Germany led 2-1 at half time.

India threatened without reward in a goalless third quarter, creating high-quality chances and earning three penalty corners. The match was still up for grabs heading into the final period and it was Germany who snatched the advantage, Michel Struthoff’s 48th-minute penalty corner rebound giving them a crucial two-goal cushion. The home side again failed from a flurry of penalty corners before Raphael Hartkopf sealed the result for Germany, scrambling one in on his knees in the goalmouth in the 55th minute.

Germany’s Moritz Ludwig was named player of the match and said: “I think we played defensively quite good, we were effective in the opponent’s D and defended with a big heart, so yes, we played good.”

Current Hero Top Scorers:

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

Men – Sam Ward (ENG) (9 goals)

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

FIH Hockey Pro League – 18 February 2025

Kalinga Hockey Stadium, Bhubaneswar, India (IND)

Women

Result: Match 23 (W)

India 3 - 4 Spain

Player of the match: Lucia Jimenez (ESP)

Umpires: Timothy Sheahan (AUS), Junko Wagatsuma (JPN), Tamara Leonard (AUS-video)

Men

Result: Match 21 (M)

England 2 - 2 Spain (SO: 1 - 0)

Player of the match: James Mazarelo (ENG)

Umpires: Ahmed Elsayed (EGY), Annelize Rostron (RSA), Rawi Anbananthan (MAS-video)

Result: Match 22 (M)

India 1 - 4 Germany

Player of the match: Moritz Ludwig (GER)

Umpires: Wanri Venter (RSA), Bevan Nichol (NZL), Annelize Rostron (RSA-video)