Hockeyroos turn the tables on Argentina as China women beat Belgium

Australia’s women bounced back from their 5-0 defeat at the hands of Las Leonas two days ago in spectacular fashion, flipping the script against the same opposition to claim a 1-0 win as FIH Hockey Pro League action continued in Antwerp.

In the entertaining men’s fixture between the two sides, Australia scored in the final minute to also secure a win.

Belgium’s men claimed a confident victory over Spain but their women’s side went down to a resolute China.

Meanwhile, the first day of the London stage got underway at Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre with both the Great Britain men’s and women’s teams earning opening victories.

India’s men claimed an impressive win over world champions Germany while the result was reversed in the women’s fixture.

(Women’s) Argentina 0 – 1 Australia

Australia turned the tables on Argentina for a 1-0 win. The Hockeyroos put in a tremendous defensive effort and Argentina made uncharacteristic errors throughout, including seven missed penalty corners.

Jocelyn Bartram made some vital saves for Australia in the third quarter to set up a close finish, and Penny Squibb secured the win for the Australians with a 47^th-minute drag flick. Argentina fought to the very end to save their six-match winning streak in the competition, but their magic touch eluded them under intense Australian pressure.

Australia’s Karri Somerville was named player of the match and said: “I think it’s good to have a fight to the end, it always makes it exciting.”

(Women’s) Great Britain 3 – 2 USA

Over in London, Great Britain left home fans biting their nails as they survived intense late pressure in their 3-2 win over the USA. GB dominated for long periods but found themselves trailing when Elizabeth Yeager scored for the USA with a 10^th-minute drag flick. Lily Owsley levelled matters for GB and the scores were locked 1-1 at half time.

Grace Balsdon gave GB the lead with a 37^th-minute penalty corner, and Kelsey Bing made three critical saves to keep the USA in touch before Fiona Crackles beat her from open play in the 44^th minute. Sophia Gladieux scrambled one over the line for the USA 10 minutes later and then substituted their goalkeeper but couldn’t find an equaliser.

Player of the match was Great Britain’s Lily Owsley who said: “We need to physically dominate, and we want to start our home Pro League campaign on a good note and three points is more than we could have asked for.”

(Women’s) China 2 – 1 Belgium

China spoiled the party in Antwerp, beating hosts Belgium 2-1 after surviving a flurry of attacks through the first 45 minutes. Belgium had most of the opportunities in the match, but they couldn’t find that killer touch and Zixia Ou gave China the lead with her 16^th-minute drag flick.

Ambre Ballenghien equalised with a 41^st-minute drag flick, only for Ma Ning to put China ahead again within 2 minutes. Belgium had a 45^th-minute penalty stroke saved and China went on to dominate the final period, missing some golden opportunities but ultimately doing enough to win the match.

Ma Ning was named player of the match for China and said: “We started a little sloppy and we think we can play a better first half. I had I chance but I didn’t get it. In the second half maybe we had more resilience and we had faith we must beat them.”

(Women’s) Germany 3 – 1 India

Germany secured a comfortable 3-1 win over India, applying most of the pressure and taking the lead with a 13^th-minute field goal from Charlotte Stapenhorst. India came back with a Deepika penalty corner in the 23^rd-minute, but Sonja Zimmermann then restored Germany’s lead off a penalty corner just one minute later.

Nike Lorenz scored from a penalty corner slip in the 37^th minute, and Germany pressed relentlessly. Savita did well to keep India in contention with an excellent performance in goal, but her team simply couldn’t break the German defence.

Germany’s Kira Horn was named player of the match and said: “We are quite happy actually. We wanted to score a lot of goals, especially in the second half, but we expected a fight and a very physical game. I think it was a good start.”

(Men’s) Germany 0 – 3 India

A solid defensive effort from India set them up for a 3-0 win over Germany who were left to rue an inability to score from 12 penalty corners. The Germans dominated the first half, but they struggled in the final third of the pitch and India played plenty of good hockey themselves. Only Harmanpreet Singh’s 16^th-minute drag flick separated the teams at half time.

India were strong in the second half, absorbing periods of German pressure and striking twice. Sukhjeet Singh found the back of the net from open play in the 41^st minute, and Gurjant Singh tapped in from a well-timed cross three minutes later.

Jarmanpreet Singh was named player of the match for India and said: “It was a very good match because Germany is a very good team. Our team played very well, good structure.”

(Men’s) Great Britain 5 – 1 Ireland

Hosts Great Britain restarted their FIH Hockey Pro League campaign with a comprehensive 5-1 win over Ireland, with debutants Henry Croft and Gareth Furlong both scoring goals. GB took the lead with field goals from Croft in the 12^th minute and Phil Roper in the 18^th. Benjamin Walker grabbed one back for Ireland two minutes later, but the Irish received a 10-minute yellow card immediately after and did well to restrict GB to a single Sam Ward field goal in the 22^nd minute as the clock ran down on the half.

Ward gave GB a big cushion with his 34^th-minute drag flick, and while they continued to dominate play it was only in the 58^th that Furlong wrapped up the scoring with a huge drag flick.

Great Britain’s Sam Ward was awarded the player of the match and said: “It was a great team performance, but a massive day for three of our boys today, their first caps and great to see goals for Crofty and Gazza.”

(Men’s) Belgium 4 – 1 Spain

Belgium notched up a comfortable 4-1 win over Spain, thrilling the home crowd with some stunning hockey. Alexander Hendrickx put them ahead with a drag flick in the first minute. Florent van Aubel then extended their lead from a recycled penalty corner in the 17^th minute, and Thibeau Stockbroekx made it 3-0 as he finished an excellent team goal six minutes later.

Belgium’s intensity dropped significantly in the third quarter and Spain got into the game a bit more, but the Red Lions still dominated overall. More goals came late in the match, Nicolas Alvarez scoring a field goal for Spain in the 55^th minute, and Van Aubel having the final word in the 58^th minute to complete his brace.

The player of the match went to Florent van Aubel who noted: “I think a very, very dominant first half, I think it’s really good hockey, on the ball off the ball, and then second half we started a bit sloppy. So my conclusion is we really need to look at our first half that is very good and our second half that is a bit more sloppy, and then go on to Australia tomorrow.”

(Men’s) Argentina 3 – 4 Australia

Australia were stretched to the limit in a 4-3 win over a lively Argentina, with Nicolas Della Torre earning his 100^th international cap in the losing cause. A Tom Wickham field goal gave the Kookaburras the lead before Argentina struck twice in quick succession, Agustin Mazzilli and Tarazona Santiago bagging field goals.

Both teams enjoyed periods of attack through the second half before Tom Craig equalised for Australia in the 49^th minute to set up a dramatic finish. Tomas Domene edged Argentina in front in the 53^rd minute, but Jeremy Hayward equalised with a drag flick in the 57^th, and Blake Govers stole the winning goal for Australia with just 21 seconds remaining in the match.

Tom Craig of Australia was named player of the match and said: “We saw in the first game, once they’re in front they’re just so good at defending, that’s what they live off, that’s what they do, so it was pretty pleasing to score a couple of goals in the fourth quarter and come away with a win.”

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 – Jip Janssen (NED) (12 goals)

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

FIH Hockey Pro League – 1 June 2024

Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre, London, (UK)

WOMEN

Result: Match 46 (W)

Great Britain 3 - 2 United States

Player of the match: Lily Owsley (GBR)

Umpires: Magali Sergeant (BEL), Laurine Delforge (BEL), Ahmed Elsayed (EGY-video)

Result: Match 48 (W)