Action continued from Sydney in the FIH Hockey Pro League 2022/23 as Germany secured all 3 points in a tight encounter against China which they edged by a 2-1 margin. Nike Lorenz, captaining the Danas, played a crucial role scoring the opener and assisting the second goal, as Germany secured the first outright win of their campaign, taking their tally to 8 points from 5 games. With the win, Germany climbed to 3rd on the Pro League standings while China remained in the sixth position with 1 point from their opening 2 games.

China vs Germany 1-2

Germany came racing off the blocks with Stapenhorst getting into the circle inside the first 20 seconds of the game. They dominated early possession and territory, but it took them 7 minutes to convert that into a shot on target. That first shot, on the reverse from the left by Strauss, was easily saved by keeper Zhou Ying. Two minutes later Germany were ahead as Nike Lorenz converted from the first penalty corner of the game, with a powerful hit that went straight to the keeper, but her attempted kick caught the edge of the boot and went into the goal.

As has become the norm for China under Alyson Annan, they responded to going behind by deploying a high press to begin the second quarter, which yielded instant results. Germany turned the ball over in their own 25 and Jiaqi Zhong pounced on the loose ball, after the original shot by Zou Meirong hit the post and bounced back off, and scored to bring China level. Germany were back ahead before the half as a mazy run by Nike Lorenz inside the Chinese circle allowed her to find space to take a shot that was deflected over the keeper by Jette Feleschütz.

Germany played higher up the field in the third quarter, not allowing China to pin them in their own half, while China adjusted to the German press by looking for long aerials over the German backline to launch counter-attacks. The German pressure produced two penalty corners in the third quarter but both Lorenz and Zimmerman were off target with their flicks. China earned a penalty corner late in the quarter themselves, but a failed trap at the top of the circle allowed Germany to clear and hold on to the lead heading into the final quarter.

Hanna Granitzki was given a yellow card in the first minute of the final quarter as she was adjudged to have deliberately fouled a Chinese player to stop a counter-attack. Germany sat deep as they defended their lead, down a player and managed to keep China out until they were back up to their full complement of 11 players. China earned a raft of penalty corners in the final 10 minutes of the game, but the drag flick attempts lacked the required pace and were well-watched and saved by Noelle Rother as Germany withstood the Chinese pressure and earned their first outright win of their 2022/23 campaign.

Nike Lorenz was awarded player of the match for a dominant display in the midfield and said: "The conditions weren't the easiest. It was a little hot and that made it difficult to maintain the intensity. But we played well overall and China are a tough team to beat, so happy with the result overall.

FIH Pro League – 11 February 2023

Sydney Olympic Hockey Center, Australia (AUS)

Result: Women’s Match 14

China 1-2 Germany

Player of the Game: Nike Lorenz (GER)

Umpires: Aleisha Neumann (AUS), Kristy Robertson (AUS), Kelly Hudson (NZL-video)