The Netherlands Women have capped off an amazing opening week to their FIH Pro League 2023-24 Season by annihilating Argentina 7-1 in Santiago del Estero.

The result eclipsed the record for the most goals scored in a game by a Dutch women’s team against Argentina, while it was also the greatest ever margin between the teams.

In a topsy-turvy men’s match, Argentina and the Netherlands could not be split after an enthralling 60 minutes as the game finished 3-3, the Dutch eventually securing a bonus point winning the shootout 7-6.

(Women’s) Argentina v Netherlands 1-7

The first half was highlighted by a Netherlands demolition job in the opening 10 minutes as the defending champions struck three times in a formidable display of finishing.

Yibbi Jansen, who was rested in yesterday’s win over Great Britain, opened the scoring in the 3rd minute with a trademark drag flick. The goal was her fifth of the campaign.

Four minutes later Freeke Moes skipped through and mesmerised the Argentinean defence before drilling a shot on the upright reverse past goalkeeper Cristina Cosentino.

Luna Fokke then added a third when Joosje Burg won possession in a dangerous area before laying the ball off to Fokke who smashed a fierce forestick shot into the back of the net.

Cosentino managed to prevent Jansen from inflicting more pain on the home side with a fine save from a penalty corner.

Argentina won their first penalty corner just before half time but Agustina Gorzelany could not direct her drag flick on target. The shots tally of 25 to two in the first half underlined the Netherlands’ dominance.

With Argentina needing a lift across the pitch, Agostina Alonso eventually forced a save from Anne Veenendaal in the Netherlands goal early in the third quarter.

However, it was a brief aberration as the Dutch extended their advantage and ascendancy in unrelenting fashion.

A Sanne Koolen slap shot from a penalty corner struck an Argentinean foot on the goal line leading to a penalty stroke, allowing Frederique Matla to convert to make it 4-0.

A sweetly worked move that involved Felice Albers and Matla allowed Pien Dicke to tap home a rebound for goal number five in the 42nd minute, before Pien Sanders snuck the ball in from a rebound after a Janssen drag flick to end the third quarter.

Dicke then provided the assist for Matla to score her second goal and the Netherlands’ seventh with 11 minutes remaining.

Gorzelany notched a consolation goal from a penalty corner with two minutes to go, with only the full time buzzer denying Matla a hat-trick and the Dutch an eighth as the forward found the back of the net just seconds too late.

Remarkably, the Netherlands end their time in Argentina with a maximum 12 points and a mammoth goal difference of 21 from their four matches. Argentina sit second on five points, while Great Britain return home with one point.

“We are really happy. It was a great Pro League series in Argentina. We played some really nice matches and I’m so proud of the team how we performed here,” said Albers who was named Player of the Match.

(Men’s) Argentina v Netherlands 3-3 (6-7)

After a scoreless first quarter that saw Argentinean goalkeeper Tomas Santiago make a superb double save from a Jip Janssen drag flick before keeping out Teun Beins on the follow up, the Lions’ first real chance came through a Maico Casella drag flick that flashed just wide.

Looking to give the home crowd something to cheer about in the final match of the ‘mini tournament’, Argentina took the lead in the 18th minute when inspirational captain Matias Rey glided down the middle of the pitch, absorbing three defenders before sneaking a sublime forward pass to a moving Casella who dinked the ball brilliantly over Maurits Visser in the Netherlands goal.

The action went up a level in the third quarter and the Netherlands drew level through a stroke of luck in the 35th minute when a Steijn van Heijningen cross from the right hit the outstretched stick of Santiago, the ball deflecting off the head of Argentine defender Federico Monja and into the goal.

If the equaliser rattled the home side they did not show it as they went ahead agin two minutes later. A Tomas Domene drag flick was blocked, the ball spurting out to Nicolas della Torre and he had time from just inside the circle to smash a venomous shot into the backboard.

Again the Netherlands had an answer as a searching ball into the circle from Janssen was helped on by Koen Bijen, his vital touch seeing the ball bobble up and Thierry Brinkman knocked it past Santiago from close range with nine minutes left.

The Netherlands were starting to turn the screws and they went ahead for the first time in the 56th minute courtesy of an unstoppable Jasper Brinkman drag flick.

However, just when it appeared the Netherlands would take al the points, Domene had other ideas as he rocketed a drag flick into the backboard with 26 seconds to go to tie it up to send the match to a shootout.

It was four goals apiece after five shots each to send the shootout to sudden death, before a miss from Lucas Toscani allowed Jorrit Croon to claim the bonus point for the Netherlands.

“The game was really cool. The atmosphere was amazing, we scored some good goals…Argentina did as well and then the shootout was spectacular,” said Justen Blok who was named Player of the Match.

A highly competitive week ended with the Netherlands taking eight points from their four matches, Argentina six and Great Britain four as the FIH Pro League resumes in February 2024.

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

FIH Pro League – 11 December 2023

Santiago del Estero (ARG)

Result: Women’s Match 6

Argentina 1-7 Netherlands

Player of the Match: Felice Albers (NED)

Umpires: Ayanna McClean (TTO), Federico Silva (ARG), Irene Presenqui (ARG-video)

Result: Men’s Match 6

Argentina 3-3 (6-7) Netherlands

Player of the Match: Justen Blok

Umpires: German Montes de Oca (ARG), Gabriel Labate (ARG), Irene Presenqui (ARG-video)