It was a day of contrasting fortunes for the home sides Down Under as the Hockeyroos claimed a dominant victory over Spain while the Red Sticks managed to reverse that result in the men’s encounter.
(Men’s) Australia 1 – 2 Spain
Marc Recasens celebrated his 100th cap for Spain with a 2-1 win over hosts Australia. The Kookaburras fielded eight debutants and the nerves showed as they turned over possession with regularity. The Spanish attacked frequently without reward, and the best opportunity of the opening quarter fell to Australian debutant Cooper Burns who saw his shot gloved wide by a fully extended Luis Calzado.
The Red Sticks looked dangerous throughout the second quarter, missing a penalty corner and a fistful of chances from open play before Pau Petchame’s 27th-minute goal. The Aussies missed two late opportunities and Spain maintained a slender 1-0 lead at half time.
Both teams missed early penalty corners in a hotly contested, goalless third quarter and the win was still up for grabs in the final period. Both goalkeepers were called into action early, first Calzado with a good leg save, and then Jed Snowden with a low diving save off a penalty corner. Spain extended their lead in the 50th minute, Nicolas Alvarez grabbing the goal from messy ball in the circle.
Snowden made another excellent save to keep the Kookaburras in contention with seven minutes remaining, and Ky Willott blasted them within reach just three minutes from time. Playing without a keeper to chase the game, Australia had one last crack in the dying seconds, but the match ended with their final ball into the circle blown up for danger.
The player of the match went to Spain’s Gerard Clapes who said: “We knew that today was important. Yesterday was quite difficult against the Netherlands so today … it’s been good and good feelings and [we need to] just keep playing like this and keep looking for victories like this one.”
(Women’s) Australia 4 – 1 Spain
Hosts Australia kicked off their tournament with a promising 4-1 win over Spain in the corresponding women’s fixture. Spain started really well and were denied an early goal by a good save from Aleisha Power. Australia then stepped up to dominate the opening quarter, creating a couple of good opportunities before debutant Jade Smith scrambled the opening goal from a mis-trapped penalty corner.
Spain worked their way into the game more in the second quarter, equalising in the 24th minute when Patricia Alvarez leapt on an Australian error and beat the keeper with a skilful aerial jink. The Red Sticks kept probing but the half-time hooter sounded with the scores locked at 1-1.
Australia cranked up the pressure in the third quarter and Penny Squibb restored their lead with her 35th-minute drag flick. Goalkeeper Clara Perez kept Spain in touch with a good glove save, but she had no answer to Courtney Schonell’s deflection from open play in the 40th minute. There were half chances at both ends but no further goals in the quarter.
Spain created more opportunity than the Hockeyroos in the fourth period, but it was Australia who had the final word. Grace Young fed an excellent ball to Mariah Williams for a well-struck field goal in the 59th minute.
The player of the match was awarded to Penny Squibb who said: “It was a lot of fun. It’s nice to be back with the group after a fair time off since the Olympics, it’s the first international that we’ve had so yeah, this group is a pretty fun group to be a part of and loving it.”
Current Hero Top Scorers:
Women – Freeke Moes (NED), Yibbi Jansen (NED (4 goals)
Men – Tom Boon (BEL), Sam Ward (ENG) (8 goals)
To see the current standings in the FIH Hockey Pro League, click here.
FIH Hockey Pro League – 5 February 2025
Sydney Olympic Park Hockey Centre (AUS)
Men
Result: Match 14 (M)
Australia 1 – 2 Spain
Player of the match: Gerard Clapes (ESP)
Umpires: Amber Church (NZL), David Tomlinson (NZL), Xiaoying Liu (CHN-video)
Women
Result: Match 14 (W)
Australia 4 – 1 Spain
Player of the match: Penny Squibb (AUS)
Umpires: Xiaoying Liu (CHN), Katrina Turner (NZL), Amber Church (NZL-video)