India’s men climbed back to the top of the FIH Hockey Pro League table with a 3-0 victory over Argentina in Eindhoven. In the women’s fixture of the evening, the Dutch extended their winning run in the tournament to six from six with a 7-2 victory over Australia.

(Men’s) Argentina vs India 0-3

After a goalless first half, India earned their first penalty corner of the match in the third quarter with captain Harmanpreet Singh producing a powerful drag into the bottom right corner to finally break the deadlock.

With that, Harmanpreet extended his lead at the top of the scoring chart to nine goals, with 18 in the tournament so far.

Harmanpreet was on the bench when India were awarded their next penalty corner. The trap wasn’t a good one, but Amit Rohidas managed to pick up the bobbling ball nonetheless and drilled a great drag flick into the top left of goal.

As the clock wound down at the end of the match, Argentina threw all their players forward to push for a goal. But they were caught on the counterattack, Vivek Prasad and Abishek finding themselves two-on-one with the keeper. Vivek laid off the pass to Abishek to tap it in and seal the 3-0 victory.

Harmanpreet Singh was named player of the match and said: “I think we created so many chances but defensively, we defended very well as a team and the structure was playing very well so when we got the chance we scored that goal… Our focus was to keep the ball. Ball speed for us is very important so we kept the ball and let them run and once we got the good opportunities we went for it.”

(Women’s) Netherlands vs Australia 7-2

Renowned for their pace on the counterattack the Australians struck first. Brooke Perris received the ball at the top of the D and hit it towards goal where the perfect touch from Rosie Malone deflected it in to stun the home team.

The Netherlands earned their first penalty corner of the match with five minutes left in the first quarter. Yibbi Jansen did the business, bulleting it in for the equaliser.

Felice Albers then slotted in off a well-worked move, but the ball didn’t cross the line before the buzzer sounded for the end of the first quarter. The Dutch didn’t take long to assume the lead in the second quarter, earning a penalty corner that led to a penalty stroke which Frédérique Matla duly converted for 2-1.

Another penalty corner for the Dutch produced a carbon copy of their first, with Jansen firing it into the same bottom left corner.

With the half-time break approaching, the Netherlands were awarded yet another penalty corner. Pien Dicke deflected Jansen’s shot into the keeper, but the rebound then fell kindly for her to swat it into goal.

Australia were rewarded for some good periods of play when they pulled one back in the third quarter. Courtney Schonell put in the knee-high cross to Malone who was once again in the perfect position to deflect in from right in front of goal.

Two minutes into the final quarter, another good baseline run by Albers found Dicke whose flick towards goal made contact with two Australian players on its way in. There was no advice possible from the video umpire to deem whether or not the shot was dangerous and as a result, the goal stood.

An error from the Australians in the midfield saw the Dutch on the attack again. This time it was Matla who became the third Dutchwoman of the night to complete her brace to take the home side 6-2 up.

Jansen then completed her hat-trick off another Dutch penalty corner, drilling it into the same bottom left corner to seal the 7-2 victory.

Yibbi Jansen was named player of the match and said: “I think we played a really good game. We made a lot of goals so that’s always nice, really beautiful combinations, and we’re really happy with today’s performance.”

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

FIH Pro League – 8 June 2023

HC Oranje-Rood Stadium, Eindhoven (NED)

Result: Men’s Match 44

Argentina 0-3 India

Player of the Game: Harmanpreet Singh (IND)

Umpires: Hannah Harrison (ENG), Ben Goentgen (GER), Céline Martin-Schmets (BEL-video)

Result: Women’s Match 44

Netherlands 7-2 Australia

Player of the Game: Yibbi Jansen (NED)

Umpires: Céline Martin-Schmets (BEL), Laurine Delforge (BEL), Sarah Wilson (SCO-video)