Several late goals had fans on the edge of their seats as FIH Hockey Pro League action resumed in Antwerp, Belgium on Wednesday.

Argentina’s men withstood a mighty fightback from a new-look Spanish team while their women’s side extended their impressive winning run with a comfortable victory over China.

As for the home sides, the Belgian women prevailed against Australia who, like China, were playing their first FIH Hockey Pro League match since February. In the final match of the day, Belgium’s men bounced back from their double defeat to Ireland with a resounding victory over the Kookaburras.

(Women’s) China 0 - 3 Argentina

Argentina extended their winning streak in the tournament to five matches with a 3-0 win over China. Las Leonas dominated the stats in the first half, earning seven penalty corners to China’s one, and Maria Granatto put them ahead in the 14th minute with a penalty corner rebound.

China pegged Argentina back with an energetic high press to dominate the second half, but Eugenia Trinchinetti extended Argentina’s lead in the 34th minute from a penalty corner deflection at the post. China substituted their goalkeeper to chase a result with 10 minutes remaining, but Trinchinetti had the final word for the Argentinians, running the ball into the vacant Chinese goal to complete her brace on the final hooter.

The player of the match was awarded to Argentina’s Eugenia Trinchinetti who reflected on her side’s winning run: “We are really happy because I think that we have [done] the things that we trained… We had some difficult moments in the second part of the game, but we are happy because I think that we defended really good.”

(Women’s) Belgium 2 - 2 Australia (SO: 3 - 2)

Hosts Belgium and Australia played out an entertaining 2-2 draw to share the points, and the Belgians then picked up a bonus point for winning the shootout 3–2. Australia started energetically and Jane Claxton put them ahead with a well-worked team goal in the 8th minute. Belgium settled down better in the second quarter and Stephanie Vanden Borre levelled matters with a penalty stroke in the 19th minute.

The Red Panthers enjoyed the advantage through long periods, but it seemed that Australia would upset the home crowd after Brooke Peris found the back of the net in the 58th minute. In an exhilarating end to the match, Belgium found the equaliser through Alix Gerniers from penalty corner scraps with just 10 seconds remaining before going on to win the shootout.

A delighted Alix Gerniers received the player of the match award for Belgium and said: “We had four games last week and I think Australia is a level higher… We struggled a bit in the first 10 minutes to get in the rhythm, but I think we had a good fight out there and we’re happy with a 2-2 and I think it’s a deserved result.”

(Men’s) Spain 2 – 3 Argentina

Argentina clung on for a narrow 3-2 win against a Spanish team fielding five international debutants. The opening half saw both goalkeepers tested, and Spain denied once by the post, before Casella Maico opened the scoring for Argentina with an excellent 19th-minute team goal.

After an evenly contested third quarter, the match delivered a thrilling finish. Argentina struck first with a Maico Casella drag flick in the 48th minute. Fortuño Guillermo then hit back for Spain with a penalty corner rebound four minutes later and Pol Cabre drew Spain level again from a goal-line scramble with three minutes to play. Tomas Domene restored Argentina’s lead with a 59th-minute drag flick, and it proved to be enough as Spain’s last shot in the final second beat the keeper but missed the goal by inches.

Maico Casella of Argentina was awarded the player of the match for his brace and said: “I think we were a bit loose in the second half, but we won and that’s the important thing. We’ll watch the videos and we’ll have to correct some things.”

(Men’s) Belgium 5 – 1 Australia

Hosts Belgium delivered a brilliant performance to beat title contenders Australia 5-1. The Red Lions dominated throughout and Felix Denayer put them ahead with an open play rebound in the 8th minute. Lachlan Sharp levelled the scores for the Aussies in the 15th minute, but Belgium responded with an Alexander Hendrickx penalty stroke three minutes later and Denayer’s lightning-quick reactions made it 3-1 to Belgium by half time.

The Kookaburras started the third quarter in fiery mood, but the Belgians weathered the storm before Nelson Onana got ahead of his close marker for an excellent one-touch finish in the 36th minute. Thibeau Stockbroekx pounced on a poor Australian pass in the 48th for the home side’s fifth goal, driving into the circle to deliver a devastating reverse stick blow.

Belgian goalkeeper Vincent Vanasch was named player of the match and said: “It was almost a perfect game. I think we bounced back quite well after the big loss against Ireland, but we showed what we have and I was really happy with the performance of the team today.”

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 – 29 May 2024

Sportcentrum Wilrijkse Plein-Antwerp, (BEL)

WOMEN

Result: Match 41 (W)

China 0 - 3 Argentina

Player of the match: Eugenia Trinchinetti (ARG)

Umpires: Sarah Wilson (SCO), Annelize Rostron (RSA), Kamile Mockaityte (LTU-video)

Result: Match 42 (W)

Belgium 2 - 2 Australia (SO: 3 - 2)

Player of the match: Alix Gerniers (BEL)

Umpires: Alison Keogh (IRL), Kamile Mockaityte (LTU), Sarah Wilson (SCO-video)

MEN

Result: Match 41 (M)

Spain 2 - 3 Argentina

Player of the match: Maico Casella (ARG)

Umpires: Jonas Van'T Hek (NED), Raphaël Adrien (GER), Ole Ingwersen (GER-video)

Result: Match 42 (M)

Belgium 5 - 1 Australia

Player of the match: Vincent Vanasch (BEL)

Umpires: Ben Goentgen (GER), Ole Ingwersen (GER), Oliver Nyssen (BEL-video)