AHF: Goals galore on Day 1 as FIH Hockey Nations Cup 2 begins

The opening day of the inaugural version of the FIH Hockey Males’s Nations Cup 2 Oman 2025 acquired off to a blistering begin with all 8 groups in motion throughout 4 video games that noticed a mixed complete of 25 objectives scored! In Pool A Egypt and Poland acquired off to profitable begins, with each side claiming three factors in shut encounters in opposition to China and Chile respectively. The scoreline in Poland’s 4-0 win over Chile was notably misleading with the sport hanging on a knife’s edge till a late flurry by the Polish facet. In Pool B, USA and Austria confronted off in one other tight battle with USA impressing in assault, however their failure to transform on a plethora of massive possibilities meant they needed to depend on their equally wonderful defence within the ultimate quarter to return away 1-0 winners. The final sport of the day noticed hosts Oman face off in opposition to Scotland in what turned out to be a one-sided contest with the guests gorgeous the hosts with an enormous 10-1 win.

Egypt 5 – 4 China

China began the sport on the entrance foot creating two circle penetrations inside the first two minutes, however it was Egypt who scored first by Ahmed Elganaini, catching the Chinese language out with a fast counter assault, to attain the primary objective within the FIH Hockey Nations Cup 2 historical past! China stormed again within the second quarter with two fast fireplace objectives to take the lead, however Egypt wouldn’t go away and two objectives within the ultimate minute of the half gave them a 3-2 lead and all of the momentum going into the break.

The groups continued to commerce objectives within the second half with China hanging first to tug stage, however Egypt blitzed once more late within the third quarter so as to add two extra objectives and construct a lead they might not lose until the ultimate whistle. Though China made the African facet sweat by pulling inside one objective late within the ultimate quarter, Egypt held on to win 5-4 and take all three factors from the opening encounter.

Ahmed Elganaini was awarded participant of the match for his two objectives that helped get Egypt over the road.

Chile 0 – 4 Poland

The second match of the day ushered in a extra managed model of hockey following the breathtaking motion of match one. Poland have been dominant within the opening half however it took them till the seventeenth minute to make their possession depend with Tomasz Bembenek opening the scoring by a penalty nook and that will be the one objective to be scored within the opening 30 as each groups felt one another out with out committing to an all out assault.

Penalty corners as soon as once more proved to be the distinction within the third quarter as Poland capitalised and scored from their third nook of the sport, Chile didn’t convert their very own PCs, permitting Poland to take a 2-goal lead into the ultimate quarter. Poland completed the sport off with a second penalty nook objective of the half from Maksymilian Koperski and a discipline objective from Mikolaj Gumny to return away snug 4-0 winners from the Pool A match-up.

Mateusz Popiołkowski was awarded participant of the match for his stellar efficiency within the objective for Poland and mentioned: “Round 10 gamers within the squad in the present day have come from the Indoor Hockey World Cup and we wished to point out we will compete simply as properly within the open air as properly, so we’re pleased with the large end result to open the match.”

Austria 0 – 1 USA

USA made a quick begin to the sport scoring by an early penalty nook by Sekayi Charasika within the sixth minute, however a lot of the primary half was performed with the groups enjoying watchfully. The groups traded spells of possession with out inflicting both defence a lot headache. Austria couldn’t hassle USA keeper Klages from their two penalty corners within the second quarter because the United Wolves took a slender lead into the half-time break.

USA had a spectacular third quarter, creating a number of possibilities together with a penalty stroke taken by Aki Kaeppeler, however didn’t convert any of them, with Austrian keeper Jakob Kastner starring for the Pink Capricorns. Austria got here again with a significantly better ultimate quarter however the USA defence, notably their penalty nook defence with some unbelievable dashing and final line conserving by Jonathan Klages helped them keep their 1-0 lead and get to the ultimate whistle to select up the essential 3 factors within the Pool B.

Jack Heldens was awarded participant of the match and mentioned: “We’re thrilled to be right here and we left the whole lot on the market on the pitch in the present day, so glad the end result got here our approach. All credit score to the staff for enjoying so laborious and sticking to the plans.”

Scotland 10 – 1 Oman

The ultimate sport of the day noticed hosts Oman tackle Scotland within the Pool B encounter. Earlier than Oman may settle into the sport, Scotland had blitzed them a number of instances to win penalty corners galore and by the point the primary half ended, the guests had run up the rating to 7-0 with 5 penalty nook objectives and two discipline objectives just about sealing the three factors for them by the point the half-time hooter sounded.

Scotland added two extra objectives within the third quarter with Andrew McConnell finishing his hat-trick of objectives from penalty corners and Ali Douglas flying in to place the ending touches to a terrific staff transfer by the Scottish. Oman lastly acquired on the board within the ultimate quarter scoring through an Ammaar Al Shaaibi drag flick from a penalty nook, however the objective counted for little greater than comfort, particularly with Craig Falconer including a late objective for the Scottish facet taking their objective tally into the double digits.

Struan Walker was awarded the participant of the match and mentioned: “We’re buzzing after the efficiency. We’re a very younger staff with some gamers getting their first cap in the present day, so shout out to them. Two massive video games arising within the pool stage, so we’re blissful to begin off with an enormous win in the present day.”

To see the present standings within the FIH Hockey Nations Cup 2, click on right here.

FIH Hockey Nations Cup 2 – 17 February 2025

Hockey Oman Venue, Muscat, Oman

Outcome: Match 1

Egypt 5-4 China

Participant of the match: Ahmed Elganaini (EGY)

Umpires: Tyler Klenk (CAN), Hussain Al Hasani (OMA)

Outcome: Match 2

Chile 0-4 Poland

Participant of the match: Mateusz Popiołkowski (POL)

Umpires: Sourabh Rajput (IND), Sheena Hori (JPN)

Outcome: Match 3