Lausanne, Switzerland – It was a tight affair in both Argentina-hosted match ups in Santiago del Estero. Belgium veteran Tom Boon added his 14th goal with 20 seconds left in the game to give his side the 1-0 win over Argentina. In the women’s match up the Red Panthers held the majority of the attack but struggled to finish. A scoreless draw sent the game to a shootout where the Leonas earned the bonus point after a 2-0 result.
Earlier in the day in Bhubaneswar, India’s women’s team delivered an impressive comeback, avenging their heavy defeat to Germany just a day earlier with a hard-fought 1-0 victory. The Netherlands proved just why they’re considered the best team in women’s hockey with a 6-goal trouncing of England and India’s men once again got the better of Ireland.
(Women’s) Netherlands 6 – 0 England
The Netherlands looked even sharper with their first match of the year behind them and took another step up to crush England 6-0.
The Dutch opened the match wave upon wave of attack and Marijn Veen scored from an acute angle in just the 2nd minute. They went on to dominate the first quarter without further reward. England’s disciplined half-court press allowed them to contest well through a goalless second quarter and the Netherlands held a narrow 1-0 lead at the half-time break.
England earned two penalty corners in the early stages of the third quarter and Dutch goalkeeper Josine Koning made an excellent low save to deny them an equaliser. Then, just as they did in Friday’s match, the Netherlands turned up the heat. Joosje Burg claimed a messy deflection from a penalty corner variation in the 35th minute, and Fay van der Elst cleaned up a penalty corner rebound at the second attempt four minutes later. Felice Albers then all but sealed the result with a penalty corner deflection with seconds remaining in the third quarter.
Frédérique Matla fired herself clear at the top of the goal scorers’ table with a 50th-minute drag flick, and Eline Jansen bagged her first international goal after intercepting a poor pass across the back in the 54th minute to wrap up the emphatic six-goal victory.
The player of the match was awarded to Felice Albers of the Netherlands who said: “Really happy. I think it was a good match, like yesterday. We scored some nice goals.”
(Women’s) India 1 – 0 Germany
Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam celebrated her 250th cap for India with a hard-earned 1-0 victory over Germany.
There were chances at both ends of the pitch in an exciting first half, and if it hadn’t been for some excellent goalkeeping there would have been far more goals. It was eventually Deepika who fired India ahead with a 12th-minute drag flick and they still led 1-0 at half time.
India nearly doubled their lead with an early penalty corner in the goalless third quarter, but they were denied by a very sharp save by the post guard. The Germans fought back to dominate the second half, but Devi Kharibam Bichu was sublime in goal for India and she denied them an equaliser. The result leaves Germany and England in trouble at the bottom of the standings with all of the teams above them still having two games in hand.
The player of the match went to India’s Deepika who said: “I’m very proud of my teammates, and (to the) crowd thank you for supporting us. And (Sushila), congratulations, this is for you.”
(Women’s) Argentina 0 – 0 Belgium (SO: 2-0)
Belgium controlled the opening quarter, with Argentina only managing a few offensive surges late in the period. The Red Panthers showed their confidence in the second quarter with fluid passing from Stephanie Vanden Borre to Judith Vandermeiren, then to Michelle Struijk, who set up a streaking Delphine Marien. However, Argentina goalkeeper Cristina Cosentino was sharp to keep the game level.
Argentina found their rhythm in the third quarter, showcasing their signature attacking flair. Agustina Gorzelany’s penalty corner flick was ruled dangerous, while Agostina Alonso drove into the circle and unleashed a backhand shot, only for Belgian keeper Elodie Picard to make a key glove save.
Both teams created chances in the fourth quarter, but neither could find the breakthrough, ending the match in a 0-0 draw. The shootout saw strong performances from both goalkeepers for the first set of shooters, while Brisa Bruggesser and Ambre Ballenghien both rang the post in the second round. Victoria Granatto earned Argentina a penalty stroke, allowing Gorzelany to put Argentina ahead 1-0. Cosentino denied Marien before Agustina Albertarrio outmaneuvered Maite Bussels to secure the 2-0 shootout victory, earning Argentina the bonus point.
Argentina’s Zoe Díaz was player of the match and said after the match: “We are really happy with our game and I think we did better than the last game and that was our main goal today.”
(Men’s) India 4 – 0 Ireland
India gave the home fans even more to cheer about with their comfortable 4-0 victory over Ireland.
As they did a day earlier, the Irish started well again, but India managed to keep them out before snatching the lead in the 14th minute. Nilam Sanjeep Xess beat two defenders along the baseline, struck the post, and then scored from the rebound. India asserted themselves more as the first half progressed, doubling the lead with a penalty corner deflection from Mandeep Singh in the 24th minute and adding a field goal from Abhishek four minutes later. Ireland had a couple of chances but couldn’t capitalise and trailed 3-0 lead at half time.
The Indians closed the scorebook in the 34th minute when Shamsher Singh slotted in a deflection from a ball across the goalmouth. The hosts maintained a tight grip on the match and although Ireland never gave up, they simply could not find a way back. The result places India firmly among the teams at the top of the table while Ireland are still looking for their first win of the competition.
India’s Mandeep Singh received the player of the match award and said: “First thing’s first, a win and three points was a great result. A clean sheet on top of that is even more valuable to us especially since this was the latter end of a back-to-back schedule.”
(Men’s) Argentina 0 – 1 Belgium
Despite Belgium dominating possession and attack, the game remained scoreless until the 20 seconds of play. The opening half saw Argentina’s goalkeeper, Tomas Santiago, face eight penalty corners—many resulting in re-awards—but the defense held strong to deny Alexander Hendrickx’s flicks. Argentina struggled to create chances, with Agustin Bonnano coming closest when his spinning shot flew just past the post. The hosts earned a single penalty corner, but Nicolas della Torre’s effort was well saved by Simon Vandenbroucke.
Argentina showed more attacking intent in the third quarter, with Lucas Toscani’s back-hand shot forcing an early kicker from Vandenbroucke. Belgium, despite relentless pressure, couldn’t break through. A diving effort from Tommy Willems clipped the post and stayed out, while their penalty corner struggles continued.
The deadlock was finally broken with just 20 seconds left, courtesy of the league’s top scorer, Tom Boon. Arthur van Doren surged forward from Belgium’s half, and the final break out was fed to Boon in the circle. With a swift, clinical release, Boon delivered home his 14th goal of the season, securing the 1-0 win.
Belgium’s Arno van Dessel was named Player of the Match and said: “I think we played a good game. Argentina defended well and were quite low in that low block. At the end we just managed to stay patient and, of course, with a goal from Tom Boon we managed to get the three points. The clock was ticking and we missed our PC’s but we stayed patient and kept on building. We knew they are dangerous on the counter-attack so we needed to be on high alert when we lose the ball but in the end it was a nice one for us.
Current Hero Top Scorers:
Women – Frédérique Matla (NED) (5 goals)
Men – Tom Boon (BEL) (14 goals)
To see the current standings in the FIH Hockey Pro League, click here.
FIH Hockey Pro League – 22 February 2025
Kalinga Hockey Stadium, Bhubaneswar, India (IND)
Women
Result: Match 30 (W)
Netherlands 6 – 0 England
Player of the match: Felice Albers (NED)
Umpires: Junko Wagatsuma (JPN), Ahmed Elsayed (EGY), Timothy Sheahan (AUS-video)
Result: Match 31 (W)
India 1 – 0 Germany
Player of the match: Deepika (IND)
Umpires: Tamara Leonard (AUS), Wanri Venter (RSA), Bevan Nichol (NZL-video)
Men
Result: Match 30 (M)
India 4 – 0 Ireland
Player of the match: Mandeep Singh (IND)
Umpires: Annelize Rostron (RSA), Rawi Anbananthan (MAS), Wanri Venter (RSA-video)
Santiago del Estero Hockey Club, Santiago del Estero, Argentina (ARG)
Men
Result: Match 29 (M)
Argentina 0 – 1 Belgium
Player of the match: Arno van Dessel (BEL)
Umpires: Raphaël Adrien (GER), Darren Hubach (RSA), Sophie Bockelmann (GER-video)
Women
Result: Match 32 (W)
Argentina 0 – 0 Belgium (SO: 2-0)
Player of the match: Zoe Díaz (ARG)
Umpires: Maggie Giddens (USA), Sean Edwards (ENG), Sophie Bockelmann (GER-video)