In Santiago del Estero, a fourth-quarter showdown allowed Argentina to draw level, 1-1, with Germany and go on to take the shootout, 3-1, for the added bonus point. Maico Casella provided the heroics in both cases, scoring a penalty stroke with 43 seconds in the game and the final shootout to seal the extra point. On the women’s side field goals from Maria Campoy and Eugenia Trinchinetti plus a flick from Agustina Gorzelany propelled the Leonas 3-1 over the visiting Germany Die Danas..
Earlier in the day, the men’s mini-tournament in Bhubaneswar wrapped up with two contrasting contests – one a nine-goal thriller, and the other a tense encounter with just one goal in it.
In the first match of the day, Australia’s men closed a three-goal deficit and then overtook the Dutch for a memorable 5-4 victory. In the other match, a brave performance from newcomers Ireland saw them keep out a determined Indian team until the last minute when Gurjant Singh’s solitary goal gave an elated home crowd plenty to celebrate.
(Men’s) Netherlands 4 - 5 Australia
Australia came from three goals down to edge the Netherlands 5-4 in an enthralling encounter. Early on it looked like Jip Janssen’s 100th and Koen Bijen’s 50th appearances for the Dutch would be memorable ones as they controlled the first half, taking their opportunities and frustrating the Australians. Duco Telgenkamp screamed in a reverse stick shot from an acute angle in the sixth minute, and Bijen got on the end of a knee-high cross to deflect home in the 12th. Australia then lost Daniel Beale for 10 minutes after an accidental stick to the head of Teun Beins was deemed dangerous, but they only conceded one goal during this period, Koen rounding off skilful team play with a simple tap-in after 20 minutes.
The Kookaburras trailed 0-3 at half-time but staged another incredible comeback. Blake Glovers cleaned up the scraps off the goalkeeper’s pads in the 33rd minute after a patient build-up, and Jeremy Hayward’s 40th-minute drag flick gave Pirmin Blaak no chance of a save as it stripped the paint off the inside of the post. The fourth quarter was an electrifying affair, Hayward’s drag flick levelling the scores in the 48th minute before Glover put the Australians ahead with a rocketed drag flick in the 53rd minute. Jip Janssen then equalised for the Dutch three minutes later off a penalty stroke, but Tim Brand had the last word for the Kookaburras with a well-worked tap-in with less than 30 seconds remaining to wrap up an impressive victory.
The player of the match went to a relieved Jake Whetton of Australia who said: “It’s nice to come back and have a win. Thanks to Bhubaneswar again for hosting, and now to Rourkela tomorrow so looking forward to another four games out there.”
(Men’s) India 1 – 0 Ireland
Hosts India’s experience made all the difference as they squeaked home in the last minute with a 1-0 win over Ireland. The Irish controlled the tempo for long periods of the match, holding possession well and declining to force their way up the pitch when safe passes were available. By contrast, India looked extremely dangerous going forward and had the best opportunities of the first half. Lee Cole made an excellent save off his feet on the left post from an early Indian penalty corner, and Jamie Carr was outstanding in goal to keep the scores locked at 0-0 at half-time.
India seemed to be gaining the upper hand through the third quarter and a goal seemed inevitable, but Carr and the Irish defence kept them out. Ireland continued to frustrate India with their patience in possession, and Indian fans were made to sweat through a tense final quarter as both teams enjoyed real goal-scoring opportunities. India missed a golden chance from a penalty corner against just four defenders in the 51st minute, and Ireland broke out from that to win a penalty corner at the other end. India’s defence was up to the task when called upon and they finally found a winner in the final minute of the match, Gurjant Singh cracking in from the top of the circle to the delight of the home fans and dashing Ireland’s hopes of their first ever point in the competition.
India’s Gurjant Singh received the player of the match and gave credit where it was due: “It was a great match until the last whistle. We made many chances, PC and field goals, but their goalkeeper played very well.”
(Men’s) Argentina 1 - 1 (3 - 1 SO) Germany
A goal with 43 seconds left in the game and a shootout finish from Maico Casella gave Argentina the bonus point after a 1-1 draw with Germany in Santiago del Estero. The first half was largely a showcase of a structured German team with an early chance for Niklas Wellen saved by keeper Tomas Santiago. Argentina’s patience on attack finally caught Germany on their heels and kept Alexander Stadler busy in goal. A Tomas Domene penalty corner flick was run down by a brave German defence line, while Casella had a drag flick fly just over the bar.
A scoreless opening three quarters set the stage for a dramatic final frame that included open chances for both Lucas Martinez and Domene but both could only find the outside of the cage. A short-range aerial was expertly controlled by Raphael Hartkopf in the Argentine circle and blasted across the face of goal where Malte Hellwig brilliantly deflected in for a 1-0 Germany lead. In the final minute of the game, with 11 field players, the Leones were awarded a penalty stroke and Casella drew the game level. Nicolas Keenan and Mats Grambusch each scored for their sides, while a re-award for Lucas Toscani allowed Argentina to double their shootout lead.. A miss from Johannes Große set up Casella to seal the deal. Casella made no mistake, calm and cool, to sweep the ball in on the reverse and take the bonus point and shootout, 3-1, for Argentina.
Argentina’s Maico Casella was named Player of the Match and said after the game: “We knew it would be a really tough game. We had a really good game and defended really well and that was the key to the win.”
(Women’s) Argentina 3 - 1 Germany
Germany came out of the gate with early pressure as Charlotte Stapenhorst blasted a shot just wide of the Argentine goal. The Leonas responded later in the half with a clear take at goal through Maria Granatto but it was bravely blocked by a fully-stretched Selin Oruz. For Germany, Lisa Nolte was the beneficiary of a quick free hit but her reverse-stick blast was deflected over the Argentine net. Finally, the creative Argentine offense found a way, as a no-mercy-blast from Agustina Albertarrio found Maria Campoy at the back post for the game’s opener.
From there, Argentina had a series of penalty corners but Nathalie Kubalski was up to the task to deny Valentina Raposo and Agustina Gorzelany. A second goal came on free play as Eugenia Trinchinetti had a nifty deflection on a bouncing free hit from Agostina Alonso. A trio of German penalty corners finally broke the Leonas as Nike Lorenz’s strike beat Clara Barberi to deny a shutout. Germany pressed for a second equaliser, pulling Kubalski with four minutes to go. Die Dans were then forced to defend a penalty corner with five field players and Gorzelany made no mistake burying a flick to make it 3-1.
Player of the match Eugenia Trinchetti, of Argentina, said after the match: “I think that the attitude from the first half to the second half, we started maybe a little bit asleep and not with all of our strength. So having a better attitude heading into the second half really helped us win the game.”
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) (12 goals)
Men – Jip Janssen (NED) (7 goals)
To see the current standings in the FIH Hockey Pro League,click here.
FIH Pro League – 16 February 2024
Kalinga Hockey Stadium, Bhubaneswar (IND)
Result: Match 17 (M)
Netherlands 4 - 5 Australia
Player of the match: Jake Whetton (AUS)
Umpires: Rawi Anbananthan (MAS), Raghu Prasad (IND), James Unkles (AUS-reserve), Xiaoying Liu (CHN-video)
Result: Match 19 (M)
India 1 - 0 Ireland
Player of the match: Gurjant Singh (IND)
Umpires: Xiaoying Liu (CHN), Zeke Newman (AUS), Raghu Prasad (IND-reserve), James Unkles (AUS-video)
Santiago del Estero, Argentina (ARG)
Result: Match 18 (M)
Argentina 1 - 1 (3 - 1 SO) Germany
Player of the match: Maico Casella (ARG)
Umpires: Benjamin Peters (USA), Tyler Klenk (CAN), Maggie Giddens (USA-reserve), Sean Rapaport (RSA-video)
Result: Match 25 (W)
Argentina 3 - 1 Germany
Player of the match: Eugenia Trinchinetti (ARG)
Umpires: Irene Presenqui (ARG), Victoria Pazos (PAR), Sean Rapaport (RSA-reserve), Maggie Giddens (USA-video)
