The first day of the FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup Spain 2023/24 saw the hosts post a commanding win over Ireland while the men’s and women’s teams of New Zealand and Korea enjoyed victorious outings.
In the other games, Pakistan’s men’s side thrashed Canada 8-1. The Canadians had a day to forget as the women’s team also lost to Japan while the French men’s team got the better of Malaysia 3-1.
(Women’s) New Zealand 1-0 Chile
New Zealand edged past Chile 1-0 as the FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup Spain 2023/24 began in Terrassa. It was a frustrating first half for New Zealand, with the Chileans creating more chances and putting them under pressure. The South Americans had plenty of flair going forward. However, they had nothing to show for it, despite winning three penalty corners.
In the third quarter, New Zealand punished the Las Diablas for the missed chances with Jessie Anderson scoring from their first penalty corner and Stephanie Dickins bagging the assist. The mood changed after that goal and the Vantage Black Sticks did well to hold on for the win.
Stephanie Dickins, who won the player of the match award, said: “I am proud of the girls for sticking to the game plan. We started well and it was important to stick with that until the goal came.”
(Women’s) Japan 3-0 Canada
Japan again showed why they are one of the most exciting teams in women’s hockey as they beat Canada 3-0 to start their FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup campaign.
It was one-way traffic from start to finish. The pace and passing were too much to handle for the Canadians. The Cherry Blossoms scored all three of their goals from penalty corners - one each in the first three quarters. Asai Yu bagged two in the seventh and 25th minute before providing an assist for Saki Tanaka, whose shot bulged the net in the 38th.
The Japanese, however, will be concerned that they could only convert three from a total of 14 penalty corners. Asai Yu, who won the player of the match, stressed the need to be more clinical and said: “Definitely the penalty corners made the difference. We did miss several of them. So we would like to work on them for the next match.”
(Women’s) Korea 2-1 Italy
Korea fought hard to start their tournament in Terrassa with a 2-1 win over Italy. Both teams were keen on grabbing that first goal, making it a tight match. However, Italy took their chance in the first half, when Federica Carta found space to squeeze it in from a penalty corner.
Italian keeper Lucia Ines Caruso played her part in maintaining the scoreline. All that changed in the third quarter when Carta received a green card. A penalty corner followed soon after, which was scored by Sujin An. The Italians thought there was an obstruction and went for the video referral, but could not get a decision their way. Korea and An got one more goal with 11 minutes to go from another penalty corner to join their men’s team in Poland on the winning side.
Sujin An won player of the match for her brace and said: “I think the penalty corner goals and the overall teamwork helped with the win. We should work on our cooperation and that will help us for the next match.”
(Women’s) Spain 5-1 Ireland
Spain produced a stellar performance to start their campaign on home soil, beating Ireland 5-1. The first half between the hosts and Ireland saw goals of all kinds. To shock the home crowd, Ireland drew first blood when an initial shot from Kathryn Mullan was superbly saved by Clara Perez only for Naomi Carroll to slot it in from the rebound.
But Spain did not sit back and continued to apply pressure. It worked as a penalty stroke was awarded a minute before the first quarter that was superbly despatched by Lola Riera. It boosted their confidence as she put Spain in front from a penalty corner right before halftime.
There was no looking back from then on as the Spaniards settled in. Marta Segu scored a wonderful goal in the 39th minute, rounding off the keeper before Belén Iglesias got one more three minutes later. Segu scored her second of the day in the 49th minute to cap off a brilliant evening for herself and the team.
Marta Segu, deservingly the player of the match, said: "It was a tough game because we know each other a lot. We wanted to focus on our game and play solid defensively and score goals on the counterattack.
(Men’s) Pakistan 8-1 Canada
Pakistan turned on the style in Gniezno and posted an emphatic 8-1 win over Canada. It was an electric start to the game with Pakistan earning a penalty corner in the first minute, but it was Canada’s Sean Davis who sneaked one in a minute later on the other end. After conceding four against Malaysia in the opener, it was another soft goal to let in by Pakistan.
Back-to-back penalty corners followed within six minutes but nothing came from it for Pakistan. A minute later, some gorgeous play from Arshad Liaqat was turned in by Ashraf Rana Waheed. While penalty corners did not benefit Pakistan, they got two more in the 27th and 36th minute, thanks to Rana Waheed and Ghazanafar Ali, respectively.
If that wasn’t enough, Pakistan ran riot in the fourth quarter. Abdul Rehman started the proceedings and provided a dramatic finish, as he fell and rolled over as the ball hit the board for the fourth. Next up was Hannan Shahid, but the hero of the day was Rana Waheed, who finished the game with four goals. Ali bagged his second in the final minute as Pakistan yet again showed their attacking prowess for their first win in Poland.
Player of the match Ashraf Rana Waheed was pleased after the win and commented: “We needed this win badly — three points in the pocket. Everyone wants to score and not concede. We are looking forward to the next game against France.”
(Men’s) France 3-1 Malaysia
France bagged three more points as they got the better of Malaysia 3-1 to top Pool B. The Olympic hosts were in the mood to attack today and it didn’t take much time to reap the rewards. A penalty corner in the fifth minute saw Timothée Clément execute a routine finish to give them the lead.
They continued to keep the ball for long periods, but Malaysia weren’t prepared to let go without a fight. The second quarter was proof of their hard work when they won three penalty corners in succession. The equaliser finally came via a field goal in the 28th minute as Faizal Saari found the back of the net.
The Malaysians continued to give Les Bleus a hard time but the French sucker punched them towards the end of the third quarter as Simon Martin-Brisac’s counterattack was finished by François Goyet to give them the lead. A dangerous tackle from the Malaysians in the dying moments of the game ensured the French finished on a high as Etienne Tynevez sent a rocket in from the penalty spot.
Viktor Lockwood, who won the player of the match, said: “Yes. It’s a good start. Tough game today. Malaysia played very well. We conceded too many corners but we defended well.”
(Men’s) Korea 5-1 Austria
Korea bounced back from their opening-day defeat against Poland to ease past Austria 5-1. It was an evenly matched-contest and remained so for most of the first quarter until a crucial video referral saw the Koreans gain a penalty corner with four minutes remaining. The finish from Sung Yeob Kim was an inspiring one, reacting quickly to the rebound of his shot to thump it in.
The second quarter saw the Koreans control the game. They were rewarded when Cheoleon Park reacted quickly to double their advantage. The next goal was pure genius as Dohyun Lim’s air ball was brought down by Seyong Oh before lobbing the keeper with a delicate touch. Two more goals from Jinkang Rim and Yoonho Kong helped Korea seal the deal. Austria got a consolation as Moritz Frey scored late on.
Korea’s Seyong Oh won player of the match for that sensational strike and said: “We were unlucky in the last game. But this game is the real Korean team and I couldn’t be more happy.”
(Men’s) South Africa 1-2 New Zealand
After winning their first two matches, New Zealand couldn’t have asked for a better start against South Africa when Kane Russell found Hugo Inglis from way out. Inglis bettered his teammate’s sublime pass with a peach of a finish from the top of the circle to put them in front in 11 minutes.
The second quarter saw South Africa win two penalty corners that were not converted, showing that the Black Sticks were not going to have it easy. In a blow to the shift in momentum, it was New Zealand that doubled their advantage as Scott Boyd scored from an almost impossible angle two minutes after the first half. The celebrations were short-lived as Matthew Guise-Brown and South Africa were third time lucky from the penalty corner two minutes later.
In the end, South Africa was not able to find the extra gear required to salvage a point. Kane Russell, who controlled the game, was given player of the match and said: “It was a scrappy game. We were going at each other. I am super stoked to get the result. They came out firing and would have been frustrated after the first game and we knew it was going to be tough.”
To see the current standings in the FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup, click here.
FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup – 3 June 2024
Estadi Marti Colomer, Terrassa, (ESP)
Result: Match 1 (W)
New Zealand 1-0 Chile
Player of the match: Stephanie Dickins (NZL)
Umpires: Clare Barwood (WAL), Sophie Bockelmann (GER), Gemma Calderon (ESP-video)
Result: Match 2 (W)
Japan 3-0 Canada
Player of the match: Asai Yu (JPN)
Umpires: Gemma Calderon (ESP), Cassidy Gallagher (AUS), Lorjin De Kraker (NED-video)
Result: Match 3 (W)
Korea 2-1 Italy
Player of the match: Sujin An (KOR)
Umpires: Lisette Baljon (NED), Rama Potnis (IND), Mariana Reydo (ARG-video)
Result: Match 4 (W)
Spain 5-1 Ireland
Player of the match: Marta Segu (ESP)
Umpires: Mariana Reydo (ARG), Melissa Taylor (RSA), Lisette Baljon (NED-video)
To see the current standings in the FIH Hockey Men’s Nations Cup, click here.
FIH Hockey Men’s Nations Cup – 3 June 2024
Hockey Stadium - Gniezno, (POL)
Result: Match 7 (M)
Pakistan 8-1 Canada
Player of the match: Ashraf Rana Waheed (PAK)
Umpires: Tim Bond (NZL), Erik Etsebeth (RSA), Paul Van Den Assum (NED-video)
Result: Match 8 (M)
France 3-1 Malaysia
Player of the match: Viktor Lockwood (FRA)
Umpires: Benjamin Peters (USA), Michael Dutrieux (BEL), Erik Etsebeth (RSA-video)
Result: Match 9 (M)
Korea 5-1 Austria
Player of the match: Seyong Oh (KOR)
Umpires: Titus Ngolia (KEN), Federico Silva (ARG), Paul Van Den Assum (NED-video)
Result: Match 10 (M)
South Africa 1-2 New Zealand
Player of the match: Kane Russell (NZL)
Umpires: Harry Collinson (ENG), Munashe Mashoko (ZIM), Benjamin Peters (USA-video)
