Germany’s men got the better of India for the first time in seven years after an enthralling end-to-end contest in London on Saturday. The Germans held on through a fierce final few minutes for the win as India threw everything at them.
The German women, meanwhile, came from behind to also beat India while there was double joy for Australia against hosts Great Britain, with both the men’s and women’s teams prevailing.
(Women’s) India 2 – 4 Germany
Germany came from two goals down to beat India 4-2 in a thrilling, high-paced match. India scored two field goals in the first quarter, Sunelita Toppo blasting her reverse stick shot from the p-spot in acres of clear space, and Deepika dispossessing the Germans 60m out before following her pass to complete a tap-in at full pace near the left post. The Indians squeezed the midfield extremely tightly, and it was a frustrated Germany who eventually pulled one back thanks to Viktoria Huse from a penalty corner.
Germany put the Indian circle under tremendous pressure early in the second half for Huse to level the scores with her second penalty corner slap. Both teams created excellent opportunities as play flowed from end to end and the match was still hanging in the balance until very late. Stine Kurz then edged the Germans ahead with a 51st-minute penalty corner, and Jule Bleuel’s field goal four minutes later made sure of the win for Germany.
The player of the match was German captain Selin Oruz, who said: “It was a tough start for us obviously, and then coming back like this it’s really fun and the whole team made a great job… I think it’s a good learning for us because we want to start from the beginning and play our hockey, so I think we have some things to work on.”
(Women’s) Great Britain 0 – 3 Australia
Australia pressed effectively to set up a comfortable 3-0 victory over hosts Great Britain. The Hockeyroos dominated the first half without taking full advantage of their opportunities, a Brooke Peris tap-in their only reward from eight penalty corners. GB were denied by the post from a penalty corner of their own, but the match was still very much up for grabs at half time.
GB camped in Australian territory at the start of the third quarter, creating circle entries and winning a penalty stroke, but came away with nothing at a critical point in the match. The Australians then turned the pressure around for Rebecca Greiner to grab a brace with goals in the 39th and 45th minutes. The Hockeyroos got stronger as the match progressed, suffocating GB with their press and continuing to create opportunity as the clock ran down on a dominant performance.
Rebecca Greiner of Australia was named the player of the match and said: “We took the learnings from our last few matches in Belgium and really stuck it to GB today… a performance that we’re really proud of as a team”
(Men’s) Great Britain 2 – 3 Australia
Australia came from behind twice for a well-deserved 3-2 win over hosts Great Britain. In an action-packed first quarter it was Gareth Furlong who fired GB ahead with a huge drag flick. Blake Govers responded in kind for Australia, and Zachary Wallace got a good deflection from open play to restore GB’s lead in the 15th minute. The Kookaburras edged the second quarter and Tom Wickham fired in the equaliser after fighting for scraps in front of the goalkeeper.
Australia then carried their momentum into the second half and went ahead for the first time from another Govers drag flick in the 40th minute. The Aussies kept the pressure on, and GB turned over too much possession to come back in the match.
Australia’s Aran Zalewski was named player of the match and said: “We put in a good performance today, I think if you strip out the outcome we did a lot of good work, created a lot of chances, and I think when we review the game, we’ll be happy with that.”
(Men’s) India 2 – 3 Germany
Germany had to work to the final second to end a seven-match losing streak against India with a riveting 3-2 win. The Germans had the perfect start, Gonzalo Peillat firing them ahead with a drag flick in the second minute. They went on to dominate the quarter and Christopher Rühr added a field goal on his return to action after tearing his ACL in January. India then fought their way back in the second quarter and Harmanpreet Singh’s 19th-minute drag flick made it 2-1 at half time.
The Germans controlled the third quarter and restored their two-goal cushion with another Peillat drag flick, but Sukhjeet Singh’s diving deflection at the post in the 48th minute kept the Indians in touch. There was late drama from an Indian overhead to the p-spot in the dying seconds, but desperate defence kept both ensuing shots out and Germany’s hunt for the FIH Hockey Pro League title remains very much alive.
Player of the match was German Moritz Ludwig who spoke about playing with fewer players to simulate Paris Olympics conditions: “We were two players down, a really tough game, but we managed to win. We played [with] three down in Oman so we’re used to it, but always really hard to play with a man down.”
Top Scorer Armband
To celebrate the talented goal-scorers throughout the season the FIH has introduced the Top Scorer Armband, which is being worn by the leading goal-scorers in the men's and women's competitions in the current season, as a visual mark for the fans, and for the players to wear proudly, match after match.
Current Top Scorers:
Women - Yibbi Jansen (NED) (15 goals)
Men – Blake Govers (AUS) / Jip Janssen (NED) (12 goals)
To see the current standings in the FIH Hockey Pro League, click here.
FIH Hockey Pro League – 8 June 2024
Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre, London (UK)
WOMEN
Result: Match 57 (W)
India 2 - 4 Germany
Player of the match: Selin Oruz (GER)
Umpires: Sébastien Michielsen (BEL), Magali Sergeant (BEL), Coen Van Bunge (NED-video)
Result: Match 58 (W)
Great Britain 0 - 3 Australia
Player of the match: Rebecca Greiner (AUS)
Umpires: Cookie Tan (SGP), Michiel Otten (NED), Ivona Makar (CRO-video)
MEN
Result: Match 57 (M)
Great Britain 2 - 3 Australia
Player of the match: Aran Zalewski (AUS)
Umpires: Coen Van Bunge (NED), Laurine Delforge (BEL), Sébastien Michielsen (BEL-video)
Result: Match 58 (M)
India 2 - 3 Germany
Player of the match: Moritz Ludwig (GER)
Umpires: Martin Madden (SCO), Ahmed Elsayed (EGY), Cookie Tan (SGP-video)
