Las Leonas trounce Australia to extend winning streak

It was a good day for Argentina at the FIH Hockey Pro League in Antwerp, Belgium on Thursday with both their women’s and men’s sides getting the better of Australia.

The women’s side romped to a 5-0 victory for a sixth straight win, while there was just one goal between the sides in the men’s encounter.

Meanwhile, Belgium’s women’s side drew 1-1 with China before snatching the extra point in a shootout and the men’s team came from behind twice to get the better of Spain.

(Women’s) Australia 0 – 5 Argentina

Argentina delivered a devastating second-half performance in a 5-0 win over Australia. Las Leonas dominated the stats throughout, defending well when necessary, escalating the pressure as the game progressed, and creating goal-scoring opportunities at will in the second half. It was a patient start though, Stefania Antoniazzi scoring the only goal of the first half with a 21^st-minute field goal.

The Argentinians ramped up the pressure in the third quarter and Lara Casus bagged her first international goal from a penalty corner variation in the 41^st minute. They then ran rampant through the final quarter, and only Jocelyn Bartram’s heroics in the Hockeyroos’ goal prevented a far bigger scoreline. Maria Granatto scored a diving penalty corner deflection in the 46^th minute, Eugenia Trinchinetti hammered in a field goal four minutes later, and Agustina Gorzelany added a penalty stroke for Argentina’s fifth goal as her side comfortably extended their winning streak to six games.

A thrilled Julieta Jankunas of Argentina was named player of the match and commented: “Australia is a really good team. I am happy because the team made good play. It’s perfect, but now we focus on the next match.”

(Women’s) Belgium 1 – 1 China (SO: 4 – 3)

Hosts Belgium defended desperately to claim a share of the points in a 1-1 draw against a rampant China and then went on to win the resulting shootout 4-3 for a bonus point. Belgium’s Elodi Picard was by far the busier of the two goalkeepers as China enjoyed huge dominance in territory, possession, penalty corners, and circle penetrations throughout the 60 minutes. China just couldn’t finish, and it was Louise Versavel who put Belgium ahead in the 20^th minute from a goalmouth scramble after a Chinese error.

The Belgians found themselves in a pressure cooker for the entire second half as China raised their intensity. But the Chinese struggled to find the back of the net until the 50^th minute when Xiaoxue Zhang equalised with a field goal. The momentum was very much with China but they still couldn’t find a winner, and they were left to rue missed opportunities as they gave up the lead twice in the shootout.

The player of the match was awarded to Elodi Picard of Belgium who said: “Normally [goalkeepers] are used to have actually not a lot of balls, but today was a bit more difficult. Also for the outlets, and on the ball, we had difficulty.”

(Men’s) Australia 1 – 2 Argentina

Argentina came from behind to clinch a tight 2-1 win against Australia. The Aussies were better in the first half and took the lead through Tim Brand’s 7th-minute tap-in at the left post. Both teams missed opportunities as the half progressed and Australia led 1-0 at the break.

Argentina raised their intensity and drew level with a Nicolas Della Torre drag flick just seconds into the third quarter. Lucas Toscani then put Argentina ahead with a 40th-minute field goal, and the quarter ended at a frenetic pace after a flurry of green cards opened some space. The Argentinians defended well through the final period and the Kookaburras sacrificed their goalkeeper to chase a result with 4 minutes remaining, but Tomas Santiago rounded off his magnificent personal performance to deny them at the death.

Argentina’s Tomas Santiago was named player of the match and said: “Against Australia it is really, really hard. We know that for us it’s important to always be in the match, to be close in the result, and I think we’ve been close in the result, and in the moment that we had opportunities we took it.”

(Men’s) Belgium 3 – 2 Spain

Hosts Belgium came from behind twice in a nail-biting 3-2 win over Spain. The vastly more experienced Belgians dominated the opening half without reward, although Spain looked threatening on the break and created a couple of chances.

The match came alive in the second half when Pepe Cunill put Spain ahead with a 34^th-minute drag flick. John-John Dohmen levelled matters for the Red Lions in the 41^st minute, but Antonio Sanz restored Spain’s lead immediately. Three minutes later Belgium equalised again through a sensational Loïck Luypaert drag, and Alexander Hendrickx then gave the Belgians the lead with another, 5 minutes from time. Luis Calzado saved a penalty stroke for Spain with two minutes remaining to give his team one last roll of the dice, but Belgium managed to hold them out, much to the relief of the home supporters.

Victor Wegnez was named player of the match for Belgium and was full of praise for his opponents: “Spain played really well. It was a young team of course, we knew it, but they have a lot of talented players and they take on our presses… and when they have the ball they were just going, going, going, and it’s pretty nice to see for their future.”

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) (9 goals)

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

FIH Hockey Pro League – 30 May 2024

Sportcentrum Wilrijkse Plein-Antwerp, (BEL)

WOMEN

Result: Match 43 (W)

Australia 0 - 5 Argentina

Player of the match: Julieta Jankunas (ARG)

Umpires: Sarah Wilson (SCO), Ole Ingwersen (GER), Annelize Rostron (RSA-video)

Result: Match 44 (W)