(Hockey news) Germany came from 1-3 down at half-time to claim a last-gasp victory over a gutsy New Zealand side as FIH Hockey Pro League action moved to Amsterdam. The Germans had four shots on goal and scored four goals, their final-minute victory confirming New Zealand’s relegation from the FIH Hockey Pro League. In the women’s tournament, the Netherlands were in dominant form, notching up three goals in the first half and then adding another two in quick succession late in the second to overwhelm Germany 5-0. 

(Men’s) Germany vs New Zealand 4-3:

New Zealand came out confidently and energetically against the world champions, Germany, and was rewarded for the early pressure when Sam Lane added the finishing touch to a magnificent team goal halfway through the first quarter. The lead didn’t last long, however, as Gonzalo Peillat found Justus Weigand right in front of the goal to provide the deflection for the equaliser three minutes later.

The Black Sticks struck the ball in the post initially in the second quarter when George Baker took a shot on goal. His effort was stopped by Alexander Stadler but Blair Tarrant swiftly slotted in the rebound off the keeper’s pads to regain the lead. Lane then added to the tally, drilling in from a penalty corner to take a two-goal lead into the half-time break.

Marco Miltkau then got one back for the Germans in the third quarter, spinning, drilling, and flipping the ball into the back of the net. With the New Zealand side clearly tiring, Weigand comfortably slotted in his second and the Germans’ third. Malte Hellwig was afforded plenty of space at the top of the D and fired it in for Weigand to add the guidance.

Germany then achieved a penalty corner in the last minute of the match and Peillat drilled it down the middle to trash New Zealand’s hearts, the 4-3 loss meaning certain relegation from the FIH Hockey Pro League.

Justus Weigand was named player of the match and said: “It was a tough first half for us. In the second half, we defended better than in the first half and I think that was the main issue, I think it was just mental stuff for us. Defensively we did it quite well in the second half and mentally it was better than in the first.”

(Women’s) Netherlands vs Germany 5-0:

It was a presiding first quarter for the Dutch and their patience paid off well when Freeke Moes went through Frédérique Matla to divert in the opener and a well-deserved lead. A penalty corner awarded to the Netherlands at the start of the second quarter culminated in a powerful drag from Yibbi Jansen steaming past the keeper’s left side. 

Jansen then added to her considerable tournament tally off another penalty corner five minutes later, taking her season-leading FIH Hockey Pro League total up to 11 goals so far. 

The Germans were able to put more pressure in the final quarter but they couldn’t make it in their way. Instead, it was Moes, Felice Albers, and Joosje Burg who coordinated to put the home team even further in the lead. There was more to come from the Dutch less than a minute later – another phenomenal team effort once again setting up Burg to tap in the fifth.

Joosje Burg was named player of the match and said: “It’s very satisfying. 5-0 against Germany is fantastic so I’m very happy. I think we started quite well, good pressure, it was good to be three up at the rest. And I think after that it was a bit less than the first half but then we did quite well and scored two nice goals, really good team goals, so we’re very happy.”

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