FIH Pro-League: Spain’s men fall to Netherlands, women triumph v China in shootout thriller in Sydney

It was a day of combined fortunes for the Spanish groups as FIH Hockey Professional League motion resumed on the Sydney Olympic Park Hockey Centre in Australia on Tuesday. The lads’s aspect put up a formidable battle however finally succumbed to the Netherlands whereas the ladies edged China in a shootout.

(Males’s) Netherlands 4 – 2 Spain

The Netherlands put in an enormous shift within the third quarter to arrange a 4-2 win over a younger Spanish aspect taking part in of their first worldwide match since final 12 months’s Paris Olympic Video games.

Spain began energetically, counter-attacking repeatedly and troubling the Dutch with sheer tempo by the centre channel. The primary actual likelihood fell to the Dutch within the sixth minute, however goalkeeper Luis Calzado obtained his angles proper to disclaim Terrance Pieters. Spain broke out instantly just for Nicolas Alvarez to clatter his shot into the woodwork.

There have been half probabilities at each ends by the second quarter, Spain placing a shot over the crossbar from a shortly taken free hit within the twenty fourth minute, and Koen Bijen hitting the pads on the different finish a minute later. The Netherlands grabbed the lead within the twenty seventh minute when Miles Bukkens turned cleverly on the left aspect of the circle and slapped his shot previous the helpless Calzado for a 1-0 lead at half time.

The Netherlands added three objectives as they ran rampant within the third quarter. Bijen earned a penalty nook within the thirty second minute and needed to stretch excessive above his head to slap the rebound in. Two minutes later Lucas Veen flicked residence on the run after working exceptionally arduous to obtain a go within the circle, and Steijn van Heijningen received a goalmouth scramble when Floris Middendorp fed a harmful ball by to the p-spot. Spain pulled one again within the forty fifth minute, Nicolas Alvarez crossing in the direction of purpose the place an unlucky defender deflected the ball into the web.

Play ebbed and flowed with a few half probabilities within the remaining quarter, however the perfect probabilities fell to Spain within the remaining two minutes. José Basterra beat the goalkeeper with a miscued penalty stroke within the 59th minute after which had a penalty nook variation saved within the closing seconds.

The participant of the match was awarded to Miles Bukkens who mirrored on taking part in in Sydney: “I wish to play quite a lot of video games within the Professional League, and Sydney here’s a very good place to play my sixth recreation.”

(Ladies’s) China 2 – 2 Spain (SO: 2 – 3)

A herculean defensive effort from Spain’s ladies gave them a share of the factors in a sensational 2-2 draw with China. They went on to clinch a bonus level with a 3-2 win within the shootout.

China have been dominant all through and would have triumphed in opposition to their inexperienced opponents have been it not for the distinctive Clara Perez in purpose. China bossed your complete first half with out reward, with the midfield being hotly contested.

China’s first actual likelihood got here from a Twentieth-minute penalty nook, however the runners closed it down. Perez then obtained down low to glove a penalty nook vast within the twenty fourth minute and Spain loved a short spell on the assault, failing from two penalty corners earlier than discovering themselves on the again foot once more. China earned a penalty nook within the dying seconds of the half, however the shot went straight down the center for Perez to glove it away safely and it remained goalless at half time.

China continued to dominate by the third quarter and Dan Wen inevitably fired them forward from open play within the thirty third minute. Spain promptly pounced on a poor Chinese language go out of defence and located Florencia Amundson unmarked for a deflection to revive parity. Ou Zixia gave China the lead for the second time, slapping a penalty nook residence from the left of the fortress within the forty third minute. The Chinese language practically had a 3rd from open play, however one other distinctive Perez save denied them because the clock ran down on the third quarter.

China heaped on the strain initially of the fourth quarter, forcing Perez to avoid wasting two penalty corners and a shot from basic play. However, in a dramatic late twist, area opened up as fatigue set in and it was Spain who appeared to seek out additional legs to take benefit. Xantal Gine snatched an unlikely draw within the 59th minute with a blistering penalty nook strike, sending the match to a shootout the place her workforce prevailed to say an unlikely two factors.

An exhausted Clara Perez obtained the participant of the match award and mentioned: “We have now immediately I feel seven new gamers who’ve made their debut, and we’re actually pleased for them.”

Present Hero Prime Scorers:

Ladies – Freeke Moes (NED), Yibbi Jansen (NED (4 objectives)

Males – Tom Boon (BEL), Sam Ward (ENG) (8 objectives)

To see the present standings within the FIH Hockey Professional League, click on right here.

FIH Hockey Professional League – 4 February 2025

Sydney Olympic Park Hockey Centre (AUS)

Males

Outcome: Match 13 (M)

Netherlands 4 – 2 Spain

Participant of the match: Miles Bukkens (NED)

Umpires: David Tomlinson (NZL), Hyosik You (KOR), Xiaoying Liu (CHN-video)

Ladies