Three goals on the game’s opening three penalty corners gave the German men a 3-2 win over a young but spirited Belgium side on the penultimate day of the mini-tournament in Santiago del Estero, Argentina. Die Danas put away the Belgium Red Panthers 3-1 in women’s play, despite Germany having ample more chances than the scoreline would imply.
The women’s mini-tournament in Rourkela wrapped up with the Netherlands extending their impressive winning record with a 3-1 victory over Australia. Yibbi Jansen added three more to her league-leading tally, as Maria Verschoor celebrated her 200th international.
The other match of the day between hosts India and the United States had to be decided in a shootout after the teams remained locked on 1-1 at the final whistle, the home side eventually securing the extra point.
(Women’s) Australia 1 - 3 Netherlands
Maria Verschoor celebrated her 200th cap for the Netherlands with a 3-1 win over Australia. Verschoor was in action early, winning a penalty stroke for Yibbi Jansen to put her side ahead in the second minute. The Dutch went on to control the first quarter and Jansen added drag flicks in the 13th and 14th minutes to complete her hat-trick. The rest of the half was much tighter with goalkeepers Jocelyn Bartram and Anne Veenendaal both having plenty of work to do. Stephanie Kershaw pulled one back for Australia in the 20th minute with a penalty corner deflection to make it 3-1 at half-time.
Both teams had chances in a fast-paced and physical second half. Although there was plenty of exciting action, there were no more goals scored. That saw the Netherlands to their 12th straight victory of the season, so extending their impressive unbeaten streak to 45 games. Jansen moved even further ahead at the top of the goalscoring table with 15 goals. Australia next take the field in FIH Hockey Pro League action against Belgium on 29 May in Antwerp, while the Netherlands next meet Germany in Utrecht on 22 June.
The player of the match went to Yibbi Jansen of the Netherlands who reflected on her side’s successful results in India: “We’re really happy with the win, and we’ve played eight matches so we’re going home with a good feeling, but also lots to improve.”
(Women’s) USA 1 - 1 India (SO: 1 - 2)
Hosts India played out an exciting 1-1 draw with a resolute United States in a match that ebbed and flowed throughout. Both teams earned a point for the draw – a first in the tournament for the USA this season – and India went on to win the shootout 2-1 for a bonus point. The Americans have taken too long to get into their recent games, but they looked lively from the push back and India struggled to gain control. Deepika eventually gave the Indians a slender 1-0 half-time lead with an excellent drag flick, but they missed a further three opportunities.
The USA fought all the way through the second half and Ashley Sessa’s equaliser from a 45th-minute penalty corner variation set the stage for an enthralling finish. There were nail-biting moments at both ends of the pitch, but neither team could find a winning goal and the match ended in a draw. Savita was once again the hero for India, keeping out four shots as her team won the shootout 2-1. Both teams will be back in FIH Hockey Pro League action in Antwerp on 22 May, India facing Argentina and the USA up against Belgium.
India’s Savita received the player of the match award and said: “It became a shootout so definitely our team did really work hard until the last second… The USA also never give up, so we just thought until the last second we have to fight, and our team did and we were prepared for a shootout.”
(Men’s) Germany 3 - 2 Belgium
Germany head coach André Henning said before the match he wanted his team to be more efficient in the circle and his side delivered. Henning’s side went three-for-three on the game’s opening penalty corners, first a nifty slip to the left for Justus Weigand to flick in. Germany was well in control of the game, utilising multiple long aerials from defender Tom Grambusch to stretch the Belgian defence. In the second quarter, Grambusch and Weigand scored powerful flicks to secure a 3-0 lead. The Red Panthers bent but would not break, as Jeremy Wilbers finished out of the air at the back post to get Belgium on the board. Emmanuel Stockbroekx nearly tapped in a second for Belgium but Alexander Stadler was quick to make the save.
After surviving periods being short-handed Belgium earned a penalty corner near the end of the third. The powerful flick from Thomas Crols was stopped on the line by Niklas Bosserhoff’s body to allow Willems to seal a penalty stroke goal and get Belgium within one, trailing 3-2. The final quarter was a scrappy and tight affair as Germany’s Michel’s Struthoff rang a blast off the crossbar while a late penalty corner from Belgium saw Alexander Stadler make back-to-back saves. Germany had a breakaway in the final seconds of the game but a charging Simon Vandenbroucke had a superb challenge to leave the game 3-2 for Germany.
That wraps Pro League play for the Red Panthers, who won’t play again until the end of May when they host Argentina, Ireland and India.
German defender and goal scorer Tom Grambusch was named Player of the Match and said: “It was a touch match, especially in the second half. We did quite well in the first half, used our chances but in the second half we really couldn’t make our chances and in the end it was just a very tough 3-2 win for us.”
(Women’s) Germany 3 - 1 Belgium
Germany came out with good possession and most of the attack but lacked consistency on their circle efficiency in their 3-1 win over Belgium. Through most of the game it was skipper Nike Lorenz who was all over the pitch creating the opportunities for Germany, first having a drag flick denied on the line by Tiphaine Duquesne, then having Elena Sotgiu’s out-stretched foot deny her on the backhand. Finally Germany found a way through after Sotgiu made a great save on a penalty corner blast from Lena Micheel but the rebound was taken down well by Stine Kurz and the resulting blast ricocheted off a Belgian defender to mark a 1-0 lead for Germany. Germany head coach Valentin Altenburg was not pleased with the lack of conversion in the first half and the team chat at the break must have paid off.
Minutes into the third quarter Jette Fleschütz blasted a back-hand shot after a nifty passing play that started from Lorenz to make it 2-0 for Germany. Die Danas continued to pressure and generate multiple penalty corners but Sotgiu, her post player Duquesne, first runner and even the cross bar continued to stymie the Germans. Belgian keeper Maïté Bussels made her senior debut at the start of the fourth quarter and did well to weather a wave of German shots and a penalty corner. The Red Panthers did have a look at goal through a tight-angled shot from Felicia Theunissen but Lisa Schneider looked sharp. Belgium’s effort never died and Pauline LeClef capitalised off a great passing play to cut Schneider’s shutout. A sloppy looking Germany finally pulled it together for a tip from Sara Strauss to make it 3-1.
That wraps Pro League play for the Red Panthers, who won’t play again until the end of May when they host Argentina, USA and India.
Player of the Game honors went to Lisa Nolte of Germany whose face really said it all as she commented only on having a disappointing first half team performance and only a good first five minutes in the second.
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) (15 goals)
Men – Jip Janssen (NED) (7 goals)
To see the current standings in the FIH Hockey Pro League, click here.
FIH Pro League – 18 February 2024
Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium, Rourkela (IND)
Result: Match 30 (W)
Australia 1 - 3 Netherlands
Player of the match: Yibbi Jansen (NED)
Umpires: Martin Madden (SCO), David Tomlinson (NZL), Kristy Robertson (AUS-reserve), Gareth Greenfield (NZL-video)
Result: Match 31 (W)
United States 1 - 1 India (SO: 1 - 2)
Player of the match: Savita (IND)
Umpires: Aleisha Neumann (AUS), Junko Wagatsuma (JPN), Gareth Greenfield (NZL-reserve), Kristy Robertson (AUS-video)
Santiao del Estero, Argentina (ARG)
Result: Match 21 (M)
Germany 3 - 2 Belgium
Player of the match: Thomas Grambusch (GER)
Umpires: Benjamin Peters (USA), Irene Presenqui (ARG), Maggie Giddens (USA-reserve), Sean Rapaport (RSA-video)
Result: Match 29 (W)
Germany 3 - 1 Belgiun
Player of the match:Lisa Nolte (GER)
Umpires: Tyler Klenk (CAN), Victoria Pazos (PAR), Sean Rapaport (RSA-reserve), Maggie Giddens (USA-video)
