Tom Boon had one other excellent Professional League efficiency placing in three targets, together with scoring his three hundredth worldwide, to propel Belgium 5-3 over hosts Argentina and high the league purpose scoring tables. The Leonas gave up a two-goal lead early to concede a 5-3 loss to the visiting Belgian Crimson Panthers. Earlier within the day in Bhubaneswar, India’s males’s staff avenged their loss to Germany a day earlier than with a 1-0 victory whereas Spain’s males additionally turned the tables on England. Within the day’s different fixture, Spain’s girls notched up their fourth win on the trot with victory over India.
(Males’s) Spain 4 – 1 England
Spain overturned Tuesday’s shootout loss towards England with a convincing 4-1 win, their first regulation-time victory towards the English since August 2019.
The Crimson Sticks soaked up large early stress earlier than discovering methods to select England aside by way of the primary quarter. The opening purpose got here within the ninth minute when Joaquin Menini unleashed his beautiful reverse strike after Spain moved the ball rapidly throughout the highest of the circle. Spain went on to dominate in midfield and Borja Lacalle doubled their lead simply earlier than half time, his diving slap from shut vary discovering the roof of the online.
England working their manner again into the competition in the beginning of the third quarter, however Spain rocked them again within the thirty seventh minute when Pepe Cunill’s drag flick gave them a 3-0 lead. Nicolas Alvarez all however confirmed the end result within the forty ninth minute, amassing his personal rebound from open play and slotting it into purpose. Matthew Ramshaw grabbed a comfort purpose for the English a minute later, however it was too little too late.
Spain’s Joaquin Menini acquired the participant of the match award and mentioned: “We wished to make up for yesterday. I believe yesterday we performed a superb match however we couldn’t win it, and I believe we did an excellent efficiency in the present day so we’re actually blissful.”
(Males’s) India 1 – 0 Germany
India additionally reversed their loss to Germany on Tuesday with an attractive 1-0 victory. The scoreline fails to mirror the thrilling spectacle, crammed with quite a few masterful circle entries, numerous close to misses, and spectacular defensive shows on each ends of the pitch.
Gurjant Singh acquired India off to the right begin within the 4th minute, pouncing on a free ball in entrance of purpose to safe an early lead. On the different finish of the pitch, goalkeeper Krishan Bahadur Pathak made a pointy save for India earlier than the match settled into an excellent contest.
Germany probed repeatedly within the opening phases of the third quarter, however India held on and created some late alternatives of their very own. The stage was set for a tense end, and the Germans put the house followers by way of the wringer. Wave after wave of assault, together with 5 penalty corners, had been repelled by a vigilant Indian defence led by the impenetrable Suraj Karkera.
The participant of the match was awarded to India’s Amit Rohidas who mentioned: “It was an excellent recreation. We had nice communication on defence. Additionally defence throughout penalty corners and tackling general had been on level. After Germany took their keeper off it was necessary to keep up our construction as a result of we knew they’d naturally dominate possession and create possibilities.”
(Males’s) Argentina 3 – 5 Belgium
Argentina opened the scoring late within the first quarter after a fast free hit and counterattack. Agentina’s Bautista Capurro surged into the circle, turned his defender, and slipped the ball to Lucas Toscani, who calmly lifted it over a sliding Loic van Doren. Belgium ansrwered minutes later when Tom Boon transformed a penalty stroke—his three hundredth worldwide purpose—after Matias Andreotti’s onerous stick problem on Thomas Crols was penalized in entrance of the Argentine internet.
Boon struck once more within the second quarter, ending a Tobias Biekens move that the Argentine protection did not clear. His diving flick beat Tomas Santiago, giving Belgium a 2-1 lead. Argentina had an opportunity to equalize on a penalty nook simply earlier than halftime, however a mistrap on the high of the circle squandered the chance.
Belgium prolonged their lead early within the third when Crols pulled down an aerial on the baseline and arrange Guillaume Hellin, who completed a second effort on the backhand to make it 3-1. The Crimson Lions struck once more as Biekens carved by way of the protection and located Boon, who unselfishly slipped the ball to Thibeau Stockbroekx for Belgium’s fourth purpose.
The ultimate minutes noticed a flurry of targets. Boon accomplished his hat trick after a easy counter-attack passing play. Argentina fought again with two targets. Thomas Habif ending a free ball following a blocked penalty nook and Capurro blasted a one-timer off one other penalty nook rebound. Regardless of the late push, Argentina fell 5-3 to a scientific Belgian facet.
Belgium’s Tom Boon was named participant of the match and mentioned: “It’s very nice and one other milestone for us. It’s an excellent achievement however I’m simply pleased with what we achieved in the present day as a bunch. It was a slippery begin however on the finish we simply managed to get by way of Argentina. It was actually and actually robust however I believe it was an excellent recreation.”
(Girls’s) India 0 – 1 Spain
Spain accomplished back-to-back wins over India with a slender 1-0 victory, extending their successful streak to 4 video games.
A goalless first half was evenly contested with India threatening initially earlier than Spain got here again at them. Alternatives had been squandered by each groups, Spain particularly scuffling with their penalty nook routine.
The Spanish stepped as much as boss the third quarter with out incomes any reward from quite a few circle entries and 5 penalty corners, however they finally broke the impasse within the forty ninth minute. It was a second of particular person brilliance from Marta Segu, outpacing the Indian defence on a 50-meter run earlier than smashing her reverse shot by way of the stranded Savita in purpose. India completed the sport strongly, pulling their goalkeeper off to chase a end result. They created some possibilities from open play and earned a penalty nook with 11 seconds left on the clock, however the shot went vast, a lot to the frustration of the house followers.
Florencia Amundson was named as Spain’s participant of the match and mentioned: “It was a tricky recreation, India is all the time onerous to play, additionally of their nation. We struggle till the top and successful 4 video games in a row is superb. We’re a staff that’s rising, that’s ranging from zero, and I believe we’re going to maintain preventing as a result of that is the spirit the staff has.”
(Girls’s) Argentina 2 – 3 Belgium
The opening half was a efficiency of set items as Agustina Gorzelany buried two nearly-identical penalty nook flicks over the top of the Belgian submit participant to present the Leonas a assured 2-0 lead within the second half. Argentina managed a lot of the possession and ahead motion within the early intervals. Belgium picked it up late within the second to earn their first penalty nook possibilities. Ambre Ballenghien had her low supply blocked, whereas Stephanie Vanden Borre delivered a booming drag to beat Cristina Cosentino’s proper boot and reduce the deficit to at least one. Belgium trailed Argentina 2-1 at half time.
The Crimson Panthers wasted no time drawing degree as Charlotte Englebert’s cross-field aerial was fantastically taken down within the circle by skipper Alix Gerniers. The ensuing sweep skipped below Cosentino to deliver the groups equal at 2-2, simply three minutes into the third quarter. Again the opposite manner, Vanden Borre was known as to bat a ball off the purpose line after a lobbing penalty nook deflection from Maria Granatto.
A 3rd Belgian purpose got here on yet-another Vanden Borre penalty nook. The flick was expertly lifted to beat Cosentino stick facet and provides the Crimson Panthers the 3-2 lead. Belgium did properly to handle the tempo outdoors of a ultimate offensive push from Argentina within the ultimate minutes.
Belgium’s Michelle Struijk was named participant of the match and mentioned: “I believe it was an excellent first recreation. We have now a brand new new group and new employees right here so it’s a superb begin to a superb construct up. I believe we will enhance. Within the final three minutes we made it a bit extra thrilling than we should always have. So we have to construct up and hold the ball slightly bit extra and quit much less penalty corners.”
Present Hero High Scorers:
Girls – Freeke Moes (NED), Yibbi Jansen (NED), Jinzhuang Tan (CHN) (4 targets)
Males –Tom Boon (BEL) (11 targets)
To see the present standings within the FIH Hockey Professional League, click on right here.
FIH Hockey Professional League – 19 February 2025
Kalinga Hockey Stadium, Bhubaneswar, India (IND)
Girls
Consequence: Match 24 (W)
India 0 – 1 Spain
Participant of the match: Florencia Amundson (ESP)
Umpires: Tamara Leonard (AUS), Ahmed Elsayed (EGY), Wanri Venter (RSA-video)
Consequence: Match 25 (W)
Argentina 2 – 3 Belgium
Participant of the match: Michelle Struijk (BEL)
Umpires: Sophie Bockelmann (GER), Maggie Giddens (USA), Sean Edwards (ENG-video)
Males
Consequence: Match 23 (M)
Spain 4 – 1 England
Participant of the match: Joaquin Menini (ESP)
Umpires: Timothy Sheahan (AUS), Wanri Venter (RSA), Junko Wagatsuma (JPN-video)
Consequence: Match 24 (M)
India 1 – 0 Germany
Participant of the match: Amit Rohidas (IND)
Umpires: Rawi Anbananthan (MAS), Annelize Rostron (RSA), Bevan Nichol (NZL-video)
Consequence: Match 25 (M)
Argentina 3 – 5 Belgium
Participant of the match: Tom Boon (BEL)
Umpires: Raphaël Adrien (GER), Darren Hubach (RSA), Sean Edwards (ENG-video)
