Lausanne, Switzerland – FIH Pro League play wrapped up in Santiago del Estero, Argentina with the visiting neutral teams doing battle. The Australian men were in fine form taking down Belgium 3-1, the first win for the Kookaburras over the Red Lions since 2019. On the women’s side the Red Panthers took a commanding three-goal lead in the first half but the Hockeyroos crawled back with two to lose out 3-2.
Earlier in the day in Bhubaneswar, both India’s men’s and women’s teams put in commanding performances but ended up on the wrong side of the scoreline, against England and the Netherlands. In the other match of the day, Ireland’s men put up a brave fight against Germany but ultimately succumbed to a six-goal defeat.
(Men’s) Germany 8 – 2 Ireland
Germany were dominant in their resounding 8-2 victory over Ireland on another steamy day in Bhubaneswar.
The Germans started brilliantly, controlling possession, enjoying territorial advantage and putting Ireland under enormous pressure. Thies Prinz opened the scoring in the 7th minute when his penalty corner deflection from the p-spot screamed high into the net. Michel Struthoff doubled the lead with a reverse strike from open play in three minutes later.
Ireland were scarcely hanging on in the second quarter as Germany attacked continuously with Luke Roleston doing tremendous work in goal to keep their hopes alive. The half ended in frantic fashion with four goals in four minutes. First Matthew Nelson looped one in after a rare Irish circle entry in the 27th minute. Germany’s Paul-Philipp Kaufmann then burst clear in the circle for a brilliantly struck individual goal in the 28th, but Peter McKibbin responded immediately for Ireland with a penalty stroke. The Germans had the final word in the half when Raphael Hartkopf knocked one in after receiving a pass from a driving baseline run. Germany led 4-2 at the break but they weren’t as efficient as they could have been and Ireland still had a sniff of hope.
JP Danneberg was by far the busier goalkeeper as Ireland stepped up in the third quarter, making several high-quality saves including a double save from a penalty corner. But the Germans absorbed that pressure before taking the game away from Ireland, Henrik Mertgens scrambling a field goal in the 42nd minute and Benedikt Schwarzhaupt adding a drag flick in the 44th. There were goals for Gonzalo Peillat and Struthoff to cap off a dominant performance in the final quarter.
The player of the match was awarded to Germany’s Michel Struthoff who said: “I think we did a good job after the four days off and I’m excited to play tomorrow.”
(Women’s) India 2 – 4 Netherlands
Savita celebrated her 300th cap as hosts India delivered a stellar performance against the Netherlands. Despite their impressive display, the Dutch defied the match statistics to clinch a 4-2 victory. India dominated the match, disrupting the Dutch with an energetic press, and earning 13 penalty corners compared to three, but their PC routine simply wouldn’t click.
Emma Reijnen scored her first international goal for the Dutch, the ball falling to her reverse stick off an Indian defender in the 7th minute. India ramped up the pressure, executing five poor penalty corners before Udita slapped one in from a slip to the left of the castle in the 18th minute. The scores were locked 1-1 at half time, but India were clearly in the ascendancy.
The Dutch stole two goals against the run of play in the third quarter when Felice Albers bagged a penalty corner rebound, and Fay van der Elst added a field goal from a pass off the baseline. The Indians continued to attack though, and Udita kept them in touch with her second penalty corner slap in the 42nd minute.
Albers completed her brace with a skilful piece of individual play in the 47th minute, beating three Indian defenders and blasting her reverse strike low into the left corner. It was enough to secure the win and take the Netherlands to the top of the standings.
The player of the match went to Felice Albers of the Netherlands who said: “The Indian team is a very good team, skilful, very good defending, so it was a tough match today.”
(Men’s) India 2 – 3 England
England took their chances in the first half and then dug deep defensively to hang on for a 3-2 win over hosts India.
The Indians paid a heavy price for unforced errors in a fiercely contested opening half and England drew first blood in the 15th minute when Jacob Payton worked his way along the baseline and snuck his shot in at the near post. Abhishek equalised for India three minutes later by getting ahead of his marker to tap in a pass from the baseline. Sam Ward then restored England’s lead immediately after linking up well with Payton to eliminate the goalkeeper from play. Ward then completed his brace, stretching England’s lead to 3-1 just before half time by pouncing on a loose ball in the circle and slotting it in.
India ran riot in the second half as tempers threatened to boil over on the pitch. James Mazarelo made some exceptional saves in goal for England, but he had no answer to Sukhjeet Singh’s deflection from open play in the 39th minute. Home fans endured a brutal final quarter as India threatened to score repeatedly without further success, failing from five penalty corners and missing a last desperate opportunity from open play with two seconds left on the clock.
England’s James Mazarelo received the player of the match award and said: “We knew India are a brilliant team, they’ve caused us so many problems in the past and we knew that we were going to have to defend really well, put in a shift, and then going forward and take our chances.”
(Men’s) Belgium 1 – 3 Australia
Belgium started strong, nearly scoring when Maxine Van Oost’s shot deflected off Ashleigh Thomas’s kicker and rolled just wide. Moments later, Tom Boon forced a turnover with a shave tackle from behind, sparking a fluid, one-touch passing sequence that ended with Nelson Onana diving to send the ball just over the bar.
Australia responded with precise passing and took the lead through Jack Welch. After James Collins drove the circle, a great feed to the baseline allowed Welch to cross the ball but it took a deflection off Loic van Doren’s kicker into the net, making it 1-0 for Australia. The Kookaburras continued to attack, earning multiple penalty corners. Nathan Ephraums doubled the lead, slotting in a rebound off a blocked flick to make it 2-0.
At the end of the third quarter, Australia extended the lead to 3-0 when Campbell Geddes smashed an upright reverse that was saved and Cooper Burns was there to tap in the rebound. Belgium got on the board in the fourth quarter off a quick free hit that Nicolas de Kerpel deftly deflected into the net. Boon’s penalty corner flick was then steered away, and Belgium couldn’t find another goal. Australia’s 3-1 victory was their first over Belgium since 2019, with Tim Howard and Tim Brand the only Kookaburras remaining from that winning side.
Australia’s Tim Brand was named player of the match and said: “Yesterday was not our best against Argentina. We didn’t want to end the tour on a loss so it was a much better performance and we are very happy with the win.”
(Women’s) Belgium 3 – 2 Australia
Belgium wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, striking just 30 seconds in. Alix Gerniers’ steal at midfield was the catalyst to set up an early penalty corner, where Ambre Ballenghien’s drag flick deflected off Australian defender Morgan Mathison and past goalkeeper Aleisha Power.
By halftime, the Red Panthers had extended their lead to 3-0, capitalizing on two more penalty corners. Gerniers redirected a set-piece that took a fortunate deflection off Courtney Schonell’s foot on the goal line, while Stephanie Vanden Borre’s flick glanced off Power’s toe and into the net.
Despite the deficit, Australian coach Katrina Powell urged her team to fight on. The Hockeyroos responded with strong attacks, including a one-time slap from Schonell that was well saved by Elena Sotgiu. At the other end, Zoe Newman stood tall, making a trio of stops on a Belgian penalty corner.
With under three minutes to play, Australia’s persistence paid off. A quick counter led to a penalty stroke after Schonell was impeded by Judith Vandermeiren, and Mariah Williams converted to break Belgium’s shutout. Moments later, relentless pressure saw Schonell tap in a loose ball at the back post after a driving run from Abigail Wilson, narrowing the final score to 3-2. Belgium had a pair of penalty corners in the dying minutes but their early scoring was enough to hang on for the three points.
Belgium’s Alix Gerniers was named player of the match and said: “I think we had a great first half. We scored three goals. It’s bit of a pity because we wanted to end on a high – well, we had victory – but I wish we had scored a few more goals. We need to take the three points back home and that’s the most important.”
Current Hero Top Scorers:
Women – Frédérique Matla (NED), Fay van der Elst (NED), Stephanie vanden Borre (BEL) (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 – 24 February 2025
Kalinga Hockey Stadium, Bhubaneswar, India (IND)
Women
Result: Match 34 (W)
India 2 – 4 Netherlands
Player of the match: Felice Albers (NED)
Umpires: Ahmed Elsayed (EGY), Tamara Leonard (AUS), Wanri Venter (RSA-video)
Result: Match 32 (M)
Germany 8 – 2 Ireland
Player of the match: Michel Struthoff (GER)
Umpires: Rawi Anbananthan (MAS), Junko Wagatsuma (JPN), Annelize Rostron (RSA-video)
Result: Match 34 (M)
India 2 – 3 England
Player of the match: James Mazarelo (ENG)
Umpires: Bevan Nichol (NZL), Timothy Sheahan (AUS), Rawi Anbananthan (MAS-video)
Santiago del Estero Hockey Stadium, Santiago del Estero, Argentina (ARG)
Women
Result: Match 35 (W)
Belgium 3 – 2 Australia
Player of the match: Alix Gerniers (BEL)
Umpires: Sophie Bockelmann (GER), Raphaël Adrien (GER), Maggie Giddens (USA-video)
Men
Result: Match 33 (M)
Belgium 1 – 3 Australia
Player of the match: Tim Brand (AUS)
Umpires: Darren Hubach (RSA), Sean Edwards (ENG), Maggie Giddens (USA-video)