A packed day of FIH Professional League motion delivered second-half dominance, milestone moments and late drama throughout 4 contrasting contests within the males’s and girls’s competitions. The England males produced a commanding response towards Germany, whereas Belgium and Argentina confirmed their composure in tight encounters that examined endurance and nerve.
Argentina featured twice on the day, claiming a slender males’s victory over the Netherlands earlier than the ladies edged Germany in a sudden-death shootout to safe an important bonus level. In Eire, the Belgian Purple Panthers maintained their unbeaten run towards the hosts, rounding out a day that underlined each the depth of high quality and the effective margins that outline the FIH Professional League.
(Males’s) Germany 1 – 4 England
England avenged their earlier loss to Germany with a convincing 4-1 win on Saturday, placing a damper on Christopher Rühr’s two hundredth cap for Die Honamas.
A busy first quarter noticed early stress from the English. The diving Jacob Payton simply didn’t make contact with a harmful feed into the circle, and a penalty nook was run down by the primary wave. Florian Sperling snapped one over the crossbar on the different finish when the English defence didn’t clear their traces, and Germany went on to fluff three penalty corners. The second quarter produced a few half possibilities at each ends as neither workforce was capable of assert actual dominance. England seemed to have scored a subject purpose on the stroke of half time, however it crossed the road after the hooter, and the rating remained 0-0.
England stepped as much as utterly dominate the second half. They broke the impasse from open play within the thirty fourth minute when James Gall slid in direction of purpose for a textbook deflection excessive into the web. They then doubled their lead within the forty sixth minute, Henry Croft receiving a cross from the baseline and snapping off a fast shot earlier than any German defenders may react. Samuel Hooper prolonged the lead even additional with a drag flick three minutes later, and Oliver Payne made a collection of fantastic saves to disclaim Germany any foothold within the match from an excellent spell on the assault. Nicholas Bandurak added a fourth for England 4 minutes from time, working into area behind poor zonal marking and chipping over the goalkeeper. It was then Benedikt Schwarzhaupt who lastly scored a comfort purpose for Germany with a penalty nook rebound, however it was far too little too late for the European champions.
England’s James Gall obtained the participant of the match award and mentioned: “I feel perhaps we had been caught a bit chilly within the first sport towards Germany. And we stepped it up towards Belgium. After which I assumed we stepped it up right now as effectively, on and off the ball. So we’re undoubtedly pleased with that. We’ve acquired to go once more tomorrow as effectively.”
(Girls’s) Eire 1 – 2 Belgium
Alix Gerniers celebrated her three hundredth cap for Belgium in a detailed 2-1 win over hosts Eire, with the Belgians extending their unbeaten run on this 12 months’s competitors.
The Purple Panthers took an early lead when Charlotte Englebert had on a regular basis on the planet to choose her spot from a penalty nook rebound within the 4th minute. The participant of the second, Gerniers, then added a penalty nook deflection within the tenth to double the Belgian’s lead. They went on to dominate the half, Englebert putting the publish, and each she and Ambre Ballenghien being denied by goalkeeper Aoife Glennon. Eire had one good alternative on the break, however Kathryn Mullan’s shot was off track, and the Belgians nonetheless led 2-0 at half time.
Belgium despatched two passes throughout the goalmouth with out discovering a stick within the opening minute of the third quarter and continued to do loads of attacking. Eire had been dwelling off scraps when Sarah Torrans pulled one again for them within the forty first minute, pouncing on a unfastened ball in entrance of purpose to arrange an thrilling last quarter. The Irish defended bravely earlier than creating a number of possibilities of their very own, and so they conjured a wonderful alternative with one of many most interesting strikes of the event to this point. The house facet had been backed into their very own circle by an aggressive press earlier than an extended aerial cross arrange a counterattack, just for the ultimate cross to elude Torrans on the prime of the circle. There have been half-chances at both finish because the clock ticked down, and the hooter sounded with Eire attacking the Belgian circle.
The participant of the match went to Belgium’s Michelle Struijk who mentioned: “I’m pleased with the consequence. I feel we confronted once more a tricky Irish opponent, an excellent defence, however we did create. In fact, there are some working factors however total pleased with the 4 wins.”
(Males’s) Argentina 3 – 2 Netherlands
Argentina produced a powerful first half to safe a 3–2 win over the Netherlands in a match that marked the one centesimal worldwide look of Dutch midfielder Terrance Pieters.
Los Leones surged to all three objectives in a dominant second quarter. Tomás Domene opened the scoring within the seventeenth minute with a booming penalty nook into the highest nook. One other penalty nook quickly adopted, putting the physique of Jorrit Croon and incomes Argentina a penalty stroke, which Maico Casella calmly completed into the underside nook for a 2–0 lead. Domene then struck once more from a penalty nook, ending a well-worked routine that drew the Dutch defence towards Nicolás Della Torre earlier than the slip left Domene time to bury his third simply earlier than half time.
The Netherlands emerged with renewed vitality after the break. Affected person passing drew the Argentine defence out of place, and a pushed ball into the circle discovered Thierry Brinkman, whose composure created area for Koen Bijen. The ball then squeezed via to Duco Telgenkamp, whose fast launch put the Dutch on the scoresheet to make it 3–1. The stress continued, with Pieters later unleashing a strong shot that was deflected away by the boot of Tomás Santiago.
Argentina had been examined once more within the fourth quarter when Reyenga produced an outstanding particular person effort, beating two defenders on the baseline earlier than rifling a backhand into the circle to carry the Netherlands inside one. Regardless of the late push, Argentina’s three-goal second quarter proved decisive as they held on for a 3–2 victory.
Argentina’s Tomas Domene was named participant of the match and mentioned: “We performed very well and our defence did effectively. We all know we’ve got some issues to do however we’re pleased with the outcomes. Argentina seemed in good kind early on however their vitality seemed to die down as Germany had been affected person for his or her alternatives.
(Girls’s) Argentina 1 – 1 Germany (5 – 4 SO)
The competition completed stage at 1–1, with Argentina claiming the shootout bonus level after a dramatic sudden-death victory, profitable 5–4 within the shootout.
Argentina had been fast to get on the board as Germany’s Lisa Nolte turned over the ball on the prime of the circle. A resilient Victoria Granatto’s particular person efforts created area for a rocket shot that beat German keeper Frinja Starck glove facet excessive. Argentina had extra possibilities as an Agustina Gorzelany flick was run down and Starck made back-to-back saves on rebounds. Germany had their possibilities together with a back-hand shot from Yani Zhong that was deflected on purpose, saved after which created a goal-mouth scramble earlier than being cleared. Earlier than half time Julieta Jankunas arrange Aylin Ovejero deep within the German circle however her back-hand shot was saved with confidence by Starck.
Germany had been in a position to attract stage on their fourth penalty nook, which got here within the third quarter. The hit from Lena Micheel ricocheted in off the boot of Cristina Cosentino to carry the sport tied at 1-1. Argentina struggled to get their flare and assault again so as and Germany did effectively to maintain Argentina on their heels to power the chance for a bonus level.
It was a dramatic shootout after Germany cashed in on their first two shootouts via Sonja Zimmermann and Yani Zhong. Main 3-2 after 4 shooters, Germany’s Lisa Nolte drew a penalty stroke on her effort. With an opportunity to seal the bonus level, Stine Kurz stepped as much as the spot however her flick saved effectively by Cosentino. Searching for a lifeline and getting it, Candela Esandi introduced Argentina to a tie, 3-3. Into sudden loss of life, Sofia Cairo completed on the backhand. Zimmermann buried her second effort to proceed the draw, whereas Victoria Granatto additionally buried her second to provide Argentina their fifth. Zhong’s try did beat Cosentino however the shot crossed the road too late to provide the Leonas the 5-4 shootout edge and, finally, the sport’s bonus level.
After the match Argentina’s Sofia Cairo was named participant of the match.
Present Hero High Scorers:
Girls – Stephanie Vanden Borre (BEL), Charlotte Englebert (BEL) Yibbi Jansen (NED) (3 objectives)
Males – Thomas Crols (BEL), Alexander Hendrickx (BEL), Timo Boers (NED), Thierry Brinkman (NED), Sufyan Khan (PAK), Tomas Domene (ARG) (3 objectives)
To see the present standings within the FIH Hockey Professional League, click on right here.
FIH Hockey Professional League – 13 December 2025
Sport Eire Campus (IRE)
Males
End result: Match 9 (M)
Germany 1 – 4 England
Participant of the match: James Gall (ENG)
Umpires: Sandra Adell (ESP), Jonas van’T Hek (NED), Lizelotte Wolter (NED-video)
Girls
End result: Match 9 (W)
Eire 1 – 2 Belgium
Participant of the match: Michelle Struijk (BEL)
Umpires: Lizelotte Wolter (NED), Lukasz Zwierzchowski (POL), Gemma Calderon (ESP-video)
Santiago del Estero Hockey Membership, Argentina (ARG)
Males
End result: Match 10 (M)
Argentina 3 – 2 Netherlands
Participant of the match: Tomas Domene (ARG)
Umpires: Sean Rapaport (RSA), Jonathan von Hoesslin (RSA), Ivona Makar (CRO-video)
Girls
End result: Match 10 (W)
Argentina 1 – 1 Germany (5 – 4 SO)
Participant of the match: Sofia Cairo (ARG)
Umpires: Jonathan Altamirano (MEX), Michael Dutrieux (BEL), Ivona Makar (CRO-video)
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