Both Germany and Belgium’s men’s side were in prolific form, scoring 10 goals between them in FIH Hockey Pro League action on Saturday.
Germany put six goals past Pakistan in their encounter in Hobart, while over in Rourkela, a devastating six-minute spell from Belgium saw them getting the better of the home side 4-2.
In the other match of the day, Argentina’s women continued their unbeaten run in Hobart with a comfortable 3-0 win over Australia.
(Men’s) Germany 6 – 1 Pakistan
Germany scored five goals in a devastating 10-minute spell straddling half time to secure a 6-1 win over Pakistan, Abu Mahmood earning his 100th cap in a losing cause in Hobart.
A goalless first quarter saw good saves from Germany’s Jean-Paul Danneberg and Pakistan’s Ali Raza. Pakistan then opened the scoring in the 18th minute, turning over possession and moving the ball to the baseline quickly. Danneberg cut out the pass across goal, but his stick save steered the ball to a swooping Waheed Ashraf Rana, who bunted in easily. The Germans raised their level to end the first half strongly. Florian Sperling tapped in from open play to round off a well-worked team goal in the 26th minute. Two minutes later, Justus Warweg reacted quickly to scrappy ball near the p-spot, flipping it into the net on his reverse stick. Moritz Ludwig finished the half with a huge strike from the top of the circle for Germany to lead 3-1 at half time.
The Germans started the second half exactly where they left off in the first. Henrik Mertgens pounced on a rebound from open play in the 32nd minute, and Warweg belted one into the top right corner from the top of the circle to complete his brace in the 36th. They continued to create chances at will and Raphael Hartkopf added a field goal in the 54th minute. Danneberg made two exceptional split saves late in the game to deny Pakistan, one each on his left and right foot.
Germany’s Justus Warweg was named player of the match and said: “Pakistan had a great start. We needed to fight into the game, then we did our goals, scored it, and then we could score more goals and more goals, and it was great.”
(Women’s) Australia 0 - 3 Argentina
Argentina wrapped up their Australian leg of the tournament with a solid 3-0 win over the hosts in Hobart.
The opening quarter saw strong defensive efforts with neither team able to get a clear shot away, although Argentina looked more dangerous in the circle. Zoe Diaz edged them ahead with a brilliant solo effort in the 17th minute, making a tackle on the halfway line and driving all the way to the circle, outmanoeuvring the scrambling defence and firing her tomahawk into the net. The match was being played at a frantic pace with a high rate of turnovers, but Argentina enjoyed the ascendancy, leading 1-0 at half time.
Cristina Cosentino was kept busy in Argentina’s goal as Australia controlled most of the third quarter. Las Leonas then regained the ascendancy and doubled their lead in the 44th minute, Eugenia Trinchinetti finishing at the back post after Sofia Cairo’s powerful baseline run. The Hockeyroos had denied the prolific Argentinian penalty corner team from seven previous attempts, but Agustina Gorzelany’s successful drag flick in the 48th minute took the game away from an Australian team that is still looking for their first goal of the competition.
Sofia Cairo was named player of the match for Argentina and said: “I think we deserved this game and the three points are very important, so we are very happy.”
(Men’s) India 2 – 4 Belgium
Belgium’s four goals in six minutes proved to be enough to carry them to a 4-2 win over hosts India in front of an enthusiastic crowd in Rourkela.
The Belgians lived dangerously in the opening 10 minutes, conceding too many turnovers and allowing India to create some genuine shots at goal. It looked like India had gone ahead from a quickly taken free hit outside the circle, but the goal was disallowed on the umpire’s referral for the ball not travelling five yards before being passed into the circle. This galvanised the Belgians into action, and Hugo Labouchere fired them in front in the 11th minute, sending his scorching drag flick into the roof of the net over the goalkeeper’s right shoulder. Alexander Hendrickx added a drag flick two minutes later, and Arthur de Sloover slapped in from a mis-trapped penalty corner in the 15th. Belgium were running rampant, and Hendrickx completed his brace with a 17th-minute drag flick, beating the goalkeeper with excellent placement past his right foot. Aditya Arjun Lalage then scrambled the ball over the line from underneath the goalkeeper to pull one back for India, and the teams went to the break with Belgium leading 4-1.
India found an extra gear in a hotly contested third quarter, although there was plenty of action in both circles. Harmanpreet Singh grabbed his first goal of the tournament with an accurate drag flick in the 37th minute. Goalkeeper Suraj Karkera made a couple of important saves for India, and De Sloover made an excellent save on the post after his own poor tackle had conceded a penalty corner. The Belgians then dominated the final period, missing several opportunities and being denied by goalkeeper Pawan on three occasions. India pulled their goalkeeper off to chase a result, but while they ended the match on attack, they couldn’t add to their score.
The player of the match was awarded to Belgium’s Hugo Labouchere who said: “Very happy, happy for the team, happy for the good victory. I think we worked really hard and it’s a good result.”
Current Hero Top Scorers:
Women – Yibbi Jansen (NED) (8 goals)
Men – Tomas Domene (ARG) (11 goals)
To see the current standings in the FIH Hockey Pro League, click here.
FIH Hockey Pro League – 14 February 2026
Tasmania Hockey Centre, Hobart (AUS)
Men
Result: Match 27 (M)
Germany 6 - 1 Pakistan
Player of the match: Justus Warweg (GER)
Umpires: Bruce Bale (ENG), Bevan Nichol (NZL), Benjamin Peters (USA-video)
Women
Result: Match 29 (W)
Australia 0 - 3 Argentina
Player of the match: Sofia Cairo (ARG)
Umpires: Katrina Turner (NZL), Magali Sergeant (BEL), Rama Potnis (IND-video)
Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium, Rourkela (IND)
Men
Result: Match 28 (M)
India 2 - 4 Belgium
Player of the match: Hugo Labouchere (BEL)
Umpires: Kristy Robertson (AUS), Sean Edwards (ENG), Paul van den Assum (NED-video)
