"VAN" (Sports Desk - 23.06.2025) :: They may not have been in action on Sunday, but the Netherlands’ men’s side could begin their celebrations, having secured this season’s FIH Hockey Pro League title after England’s victory over Australia meant the defending champions could no longer catch the Dutch at the top of the table.
That completed an impressive double for the Dutch sides, after the women’s team secured their title during the week with two games in hand.
In other results on Sunday, India’s men ended a seven-match losing streak with victory over Belgium. Meanwhile, England’s women claimed a vital three points against Spain, which could prove crucial in the fight to avoid relegation after the Indian women went down to the Belgians.
Both Germany’s men and Australia’s women came from three goals down to win their respective clashes, while China’s women got the better of Argentina, and Spain's men trounced Ireland.
(Women's) Belgium 2 – 0 India
India threw everything into their clash with Belgium in Antwerp as they continue their battle to avoid bottom spot in the log but ultimately succumbed to a 2–0 defeat.
The Indians came out firing, controlling much of the ball, piling on the pressure, and earning the first penalty corner of the match. It wasn't until the final five minutes of the opening quarter that Belgium started to look more threatening, with Indian keeper Savita brought into action for the first time and a slap off the line from Salima Tete needed to keep the period goalless. There was more end-to-end action in the second quarter, but neither side could find the breakthrough.
Belgium finally broke the deadlock in the 40th minute with Justine Rasir popping the ball up for Ambre Ballenghien to add a deft deflection in, a fitting way to celebrate her 50th international goal in her 100th appearance for the Red Panthers. The hosts doubled their lead just three minutes later with a well-executed penalty corner variation. It was Lien Hillewaert who applied the finishing touch from a tight angle, sending the ball into the top corner and putting the result beyond doubt.
Belgium's Louise Dewaet was named player of the match and said: "I think the first half wasn't our best... but I'm happy that we turned it around and in the second half we kept on fighting and it's nice to have this result.
(Women's) England 4 – 1 Spain
England drew the curtain on the women's event in London with a 4-1 win over Spain, a vital result in the context of the relegation fight they are locked in with India.
The English started aggressively and took the lead in the third minute when Maddie Axford scored her first international goal with a deflection from open play. Spain had their chances from a flurry of penalty corners, and Paula Jiménez equalised with a 14th-minute drag flick. The Spanish then missed a penalty stroke but created some good opportunities in the second quarter. England had their own chances, but it remained 1-1 at half time.
With their spot in next year's competition at risk, England got the bit between their teeth in the second half. Axford restored England's lead from a recycled penalty corner in the 38th minute, drifting to the p-spot and flicking in quickly as the ball fell into her arc. Georgie Gardens then gave England a two-goal cushion with her first international goal in the 43rd, tapping in at the back post. Spain tried to create some opportunity in the final five minutes by pulling their keeper off, but Isabelle Petter had the final word for England when she put the ball into an empty net in the 59th minute to wrap up the crucial win.
The player of the match was awarded to England's Flora Peel, who said of captaining her team: "It's a massive honour. This team is absolutely wonderful. What we've done the last few weeks has been amazing. It's a journey, it always is, and we're just starting ours, but I couldn't be prouder of everyone."
(Women's) Germany 3 – 4 Australia
Australia signed off their campaign on a high, coming back from three goals down to beat Germany 4-3.
The Australians probably had the better of the first half, but it was Germany who scored most of the goals. Sara Strauss picked a good deflection from a position just in front of the goalkeeper in the third minute and Innes Wanner then doubled Germany's lead in the 27th, receiving a sensational pass outside the circle and getting a good flick away from just inside. Lisa Nolte added a penalty corner strike in the same minute. The Aussies pulled one back just before half time, when Courtney Schonell pounced on a half-saved ball behind the goalkeeper to make it 3-1.
Australia took full control in the second half and Greta Hayes finished with a high slap in the 33rd minute. Grace Stewart then equalised with a well-worked team goal in the 43rd, following her initial pass with a flick into the net. And Lexie Pickering nudged them ahead in the 45th, reacting quickest to a loose ball between two defenders on the line to complete the comeback victory.
Greta Hayes was named the player of the match for Australia and said: "We definitely came into half time on the back foot, but really happy with taking the learnings from yesterday being down at half time. Coming out in the second half, we really stepped up... So stoked to finish on a high with the girls."
(Women's) China 2 – 1 Argentina
China came from a goal down for a 2-1 win over Argentina, ending the South Americans' otherwise brilliant campaign with a loss.
The match got off to a flying start with two early goals. Maria Granatto slapped in the opener for Argentina in the first minute after a good play down the right side. Deng Qiuchan then equalised for China in the third minute, timing her lead behind a defender perfectly for a neat tap-in. While Argentina had dominated the first half, Ma Ning's 25th-minute drag flick gave China a 2-1 lead at half time.
The Chinese controlled a goalless third quarter where Las Leonas struggled to get forward and picked up a yellow card. Goalkeeper Mercedes Artola did well to keep Argentina in touch with an excellent double save from a penalty corner early in the final quarter, but Wu Surong matched her effort in the Chinese goal and Argentina couldn't find an equaliser.
Chen Yi of China received the player of the match award and said: "We showed our fighting spirit today, and we stayed structured, and the connection was good today. If we win all four remaining games, we will be top three in the Pro League this season, so this is our goal."
(Men's) Spain 9 – 1 Ireland
Spain were at their creative best as they tore Ireland apart with a 9-1 win, boosting their chances of claiming a qualifying spot for next year’s FIH Hockey World Cup.
The Spaniards produced one of the most dominant displays of the tournament in the first half, alternating between half-court and high presses at will, turning over Irish possession all over the pitch, and destroying Ireland's usually resolute defensive confidence. Their first circle entry came within 10 seconds of the starting whistle, and Pepe Cunill fired them ahead with his third-minute drag flick. Nicolas Alvarez doubled the lead in the seventh minute after dispossessing Ireland in their circle, and Marc Miralles added a penalty stroke a minute later. Alvaro Iglesias ended the first quarter with a slap-in at the near post for 4-0. Further goals from Cunill (18th minute), Joaquin Menini (19), Jordi Bonastre (24), and Miralles (30) saw Spain leading 8-0 at half time.
It was never going to be possible for Spain to match the heights achieved in the first half. Miralles did complete his hat-trick in the 35th minute, however, and Ben Nelson struck a good reverse stick for Ireland's consolation goal in the 50th.
The player of the match was awarded to Spain's Marc Miralles , who said: "It was a goal for us today to try to be very effective in their circle, and I think we had a lot of corners, a lot of chances. And I'd say we also had them in the first game, but we didn't score them, and today our focus was on that for sure, and on defending our circle, so it really was a good first half."
(Men's) Belgium 3 - 4 India
India finished their FIH Hockey Pro League campaign on a high by snapping a seven-match losing streak with a 4-3 victory over Belgium in Antwerp.
The hosts struck first in the eighth minute when Arthur de Sloover ran into the circle and lifted a superb angled shot over the goalkeeper's shoulder and into the roof of the net. India came close to equalising in the final moments of the opening quarter, but Abhishek's powerful strike was gloved away by Belgian keeper Simon Vandenbroucke.
Vandenbroucke denied Harmanpreet Singh's drag flick from India's first penalty corner early in the second quarter. However, the equaliser came from their second attempt. This time Harmanpreet's drag was helped on its way by Sukhjeet Singh, who, together with Dilpreet Singh was celebrating his 100th cap for India. Several more golden opportunities went begging at both ends as the teams headed to half time locked on 1-1.
Belgium regained the lead in the third quarter when a save from Nico de Kerpel's cross fell to Thibault Stockbroekx, who dinked it in. Their lead was short-lived, however, as, just seconds later, Sukhjeet responded with his second goal of the match, smashing the ball in from the top of the circle. India then edged in front when Amit Rohidas converted a penalty corner with a powerful strike, putting the visitors 3-2 up. Belgium drew level in the 41st minute, as Hugo Labouchere claimed his first senior international goal with a well-taken drag flick from the hosts' first penalty corner of the match. The decisive moment came when, with just 1 minute 20 left on the clock, India were awarded a penalty stroke. Harmanpreet Singh stepped up and made no mistake, burying the shot to secure a dramatic win.
Sukhjeet Singh was named player of the match for India and said: "It feels really, really good. We made a good comeback. All the matches which we lost, we still had confidence in ourselves, and that's what kept us going."
(Men's) England 2 – 1 Australia
England showed tremendous determination in their 2-1 victory over Australia, claiming their first win over the Kookaburras in nearly 11 years and denying them the opportunity to successfully defend their FIH Hockey Pro League title.
Australia bossed the first half with 11 penalty corner attempts and a penalty stroke to a single penalty corner for England, but they simply couldn't score. Goalkeeper James Mazarelo led the defensive effort with some incredible saves. Zach Wallace stopped one on the post, and one even struck the post, but it remained 0-0 at half time.
Mazarelo started the second half exactly where he left off, making a full extension save with his right boot. England somehow snatched the lead in the 31st minute, Jack Waller batting in a lofted ball off the goalkeeper from a penalty corner. Australia kept applying pressure, though, and Tim Brand found the roof of the net in the 43rd minute, a penalty corner variation going to him for a deflection at the right post.
England enjoyed their first period of ascendancy in the final quarter and Jack Waller restored their lead in the 49th minute with a sharp flick over the goalkeeper's shoulder. Australia nearly conceded another within a minute, but Ashleigh Thomas made an athletic save of the highest quality to keep his team in touch. Excellent saves at both ends followed, and Australia pulled their goalkeeper off in search of a result, but England managed to hang on, much to the delight of the home fans in London.
England's James Mazarelo was named the player of the match and said: "An amazing way to finish because I think we'd all say that we were probably a little bit frustrated with how we've done it across the previous five games… It's our character, and that's what we pride ourselves on, being very tough to beat."
(Men's) Germany 4 – 3 Argentina
Germany clawed their way back from three goals down to pull off an impressive 4-3 win over a frustrated Argentina in Berlin.
In a frantic start to the match with big action at both ends, Nicolas Keenan got a deflection from open play to put Argentina ahead in the second minute. Germany couldn't quite find their touch through the first half, while Tomas Domene extended Argentina's lead to 3-0 with big drag flicks to the bottom left corner in the 15th and 21st minutes.
Jean-Paul Danneberg weathered a storm in goal for Germany in the third quarter before Justus Weigand started their comeback with a neat deflection in the 42nd minute. They then struck twice within a minute to level the scores, Hannes Müller tapping in at the back post and Tom Grambusch firing in a huge drag flick in the 52nd. Weigand completed his brace five minutes later minute, cleaning up off the pads from open play to snatch the win.
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