A big comeback and clinical finishes featured in the three matches that took place as FIH Hockey Pro League action resumed in Valencia, Spain and Yunfu, China on Thursday.

The Netherlands men overturned a two-goal deficit to edge Spain 4–3, while Belgium’s women pulled away from Spain for a 5–3 win to extend their flawless start to this season’s campaign.

In China, the Dutch women were all control and composure in a 3–0 victory over the hosts, with Frederique Matla and Yibbi Jansen sealing the result as missed chances cost the home side.

(Men’s) Spain 3 – 4 Netherlands

The Netherlands men had to work hard to come back from two goals down to beat Spain 4-3 in Valencia.

Playing the opening game of their FIH Hockey Pro League season in front of an excited home crowd, the Spanish men came out firing. They were duly rewarded with the first penalty corner of the match in the 10th minute, when the deflection off a Dutch defender fell to Marc Vizcaino to lift it into the top of the net. There was more to come from the determined Spaniards, who again made the most of another penalty corner with just over a minute to go in the first quarter. This time, it was Pepe Cunill who dragged it in between the postman and goalkeeper to extend the lead. The second period again saw Spain producing wave after wave of attack, but the Dutch managed to keep them out, eventually earning a penalty corner of their own, with Pepijn van der Heijden converting to halve their deficit just before the half-time break.

A stroke of fortune saw the Dutch back on level terms at the start of the third quarter, with Koen Bijen pouncing on a Spanish back pass, taking it into the circle and smashing in the equaliser. Playing with more intensity, the Netherlands were back on the attack soon after, with a good build-up resulting in Thierry Brinkman slotting it in from an acute angle to edge his side in front. The resurgent Dutch began to take a firm grip in the final period, earning several penalty corners, with Tijmen Reyenga converting in the 59th minute. There was some consolation in the final minute when Guillermo Fortuno slotted in Spain’s third, but there was not enough time remaining for it to make a difference.

The player of the match was awarded to Thierry Brinkman, who said: “It was an important win for us, especially after a tough trip to Argentina. We didn't play good there, but I think this is a good start. To be honest, the first half was quite good from Spain, so they were better. But in the end, we turned it around, so really, really happy with the three points."

(Women’s) Spain 3 – 5 Belgium

Belgium’s women claimed their fifth straight win of the FIH Hockey Pro League season with a comfortable 3-5 victory over Spain in Valencia.

An evenly contested first quarter remained goalless, with all the action coming in the second period. Alexi van Remortel enjoyed plenty of space as she took the ball into the circle and fired into goal in the 16th minute, the perfect way to celebrate her first senior international cap. Louise Dewaet then doubled the Belgians’ lead moments later when she was afforded similar space by the Spanish defence, allowing her to slot it in from the right side. The Spanish then clawed one back when Florencia Amundson popped in a deflection in front of goal.

It was Belgium who put their foot down in the third quarter with Van Remortel sneaking in her second from a deflection right in front of goal in the 35th minute. A confident run from Camille Belis saw the Belgians extending their lead even further when she went one-on-one with the keeper and came out on top just three minutes later. The Red Panthers continued to look dangerous in the final quarter and they found a fifth goal in the 55th minute when the rebound off the goalkeeper from Van Remortel’s shot was plugged in by Delphine Marien. Spain came alive in the final few minutes of the match, scoring two more goals thanks to Berta Agullo off a penalty corner rebound and a Patricia Alvarez field goal. But it was ultimately too late after falling so far behind.

Belgian captain Michelle Struijk was named Player of the Match.

(Women’s) China 0 – 3 Netherlands

A showdown between the Olympic gold and silver medallists, the Netherlands and China saw the Dutch continuing their winning streak after emerging as 3-0 winners.

It was an action-packed first half with China creating the first shot on goal, much to the delight of the home crowd, enjoying a first-ever FIH Hockey Pro League match in the city of Yunfu. But the Dutch were relentless after that, putting the Chinese defence to the test. The home side held out well, with goalkeeper Surong Wu making several excellent saves to keep the sides goalless by the first break. But something had to give, and it was finally Frederique Matla who found the breakthrough, pouncing on a loose ball, showing great composure and slotting it in to give her side a well-deserved lead in the 26th minute.

The third quarter brought both keepers into action, with China producing their fair share of chances. But Matla completed her brace in the 41st minute to double her side’s lead. That’s after Xan de Waard worked the ball into the circle and passed to Matla, whose first-touch strike from the far post found the back of the net. Yibbi Jansen was then back to her goal-scoring best off a penalty corner in the 57th minute as the Netherlands went on to wrap up the 3-0 victory, leaving China to rue their missed opportunities from six penalty corners of their own.

The Netherlands’ Frederique Matla was named as the player of the match and said: “We are really happy to be here and we showed you all hopefully a very nice match today. Of course it was very tight, it was a tough game, but I'm really happy that we had a good start here in a mission to perform at our best here in Yunfu.

Current Hero Top Scorers:

Women – Yibbi Jansen (NED), Frederique Matla (NED) (4 goals)

Men – Alexander Hendrickx (BEL), Tom Boon (BEL), Tomas Domene (ARG), Thierry Brinkman (NED) (4 goals)

To see the current standings in the FIH Hockey Pro League, click here.

FIH Hockey Pro League – 5 February 2026

Estadio Betero, Valencia (ESP)

Men

Result: Match 13 (M)

Spain 3 - 4 Netherlands

Player of the match: Thierry Brinkman (NED)

Umpires: Ahmed ElSayed (EGY), Alex Miles (CAN), Wanri Venter (RSA-video)

Women

Result: Match 13 (W)

Spain 3 – 5 Belgium

Player of the match: Michelle Struijk (BEL)

Umpires: Allison Mikelson (USA), Sarah Wilson (SCO), Victoria Pazos (PAR-video)


Yunfu Education Park Hockey Field, Yunfu (CHN)

Women

Result: Match 14 (W)

China 0 - 3 Netherlands

Player of the match: Frederique Matla (NED)

Umpires: Kelly Hudson (NZL), Deepak Joshi (IND), Ana Ortega (K-video)