Germany and China played a high intensity match in the FIH Hockey Pro League 2022/23 where the teams were tied at 0-0 till the final quarter, but a 3-goal burst from Germany in the final quarter lifted them over the plucky Chinese team and gave them all 3 points, taking their season tally to 11 points from 7 games, as they sit in the third position in the league table.

Germany vs China 3-0

China employed a high press to great effect in the game against Australia 24 hours before the start of this game, and it worked to great effect, so for a second game in a row China stuck to their task and pressed Germany deep into their own half. While the tactic did not result in a goal for the Asian team, it did produce some good scoring opportunities for Zhang Xiaoxue and Yang Haoting and also kept Germany from posing any major threat on the Chinese goal.

China started off the second quarter as Germany sat deep in their own half, with not a single player near the half-line. Liang Meiyu was presented a big chance as a missed pass on the Germany 25 allowed her to get a shot away on the reverse from the top of the circle, but her vicious hit sailed just over the crossbar. Germany’s first chance of the game fell to Charlotte Stapenhorst, as she pounced on a loose pass by Gu Bingfeng in the circle, but she couldn’t get a clean look at the goal as the ball rolled away from her. Germany started to dominate possession and territory late in the first half, but the Chinese deep defence prevented them from getting a good look to take a shot in the circle as the teams headed into the break at 0-0.

Germany won their first penalty corner of the game early in the second half and went for a variation with the ball going back to the injector, Anne Schröder, but her shot from the tight angle was saved easily by the Chinese keeper who stood her ground on the first post. Strauss and Fleschütz constantly posed a threat in the Chinese circle as their movement in the circle allowed their teammates to find a pass into the circle, but both Germany forwards missed a chance each, to open the scoring, albeit both chances being tough ones.

The final quarter started with an opportunity for Germany as a long passing move by the Danas found Strauss in the left side of the goal but the angle for her to shoot was acute and once again Chinese keeper Ye Jiao covered her angles really well and saved. Germany finally found the opener, making the pressure count, as a pass from the top of the circle by Nike Lorenz found Kira Horn unmarked on the right, and Horn buried her shot on the far corner of the goal. Germany added a second goal in quick succession as a turnover by China on their 25 yard line was quickly pounced upon by Pieper and her driven pass was received by Stapenhorst who showed brilliant skills to dribble past two defenders and lift her shot over the keeper. With 6 minutes left in the game Germany won a penalty corner and Nike Lorenz added a third goal, burying her flick into the right side-netting, putting the game beyond Chinese reach and sealing all 3 points for the Danas.

Kira Horn was awarded player of the match and said: “The difference in the second half was that we finally got the goal we were looking for. It was a tough match, we had to defend a lot. But scoring that goal allowed us to break free a bit and now we aim to finish this mini-tournament with a win against Australia tomorrow.”

FIH Pro League – 14 February 2023

Sydney Olympic Hockey Center, Australia (AUS)

Result: Women’s Match 16

Germany 3-0 China

Player of the Game: Kira Horn (GER)

Umpires: Kristy Robertson (AUS), Aleisha Neumann (AUS), Junko Wagatsuma (JPN-video)