(Hockey news) China summed up their FIH Hockey Pro League campaign in exasperating fashion, enjoying the dominance in their final match against Argentina in Eindhoven, but still losing by 2-1 to Los Leonas.

Meantime, the Netherlands men were out vindicating when they once again came up against the Australian side which gave them the taste of their worst ever home defeat three days ago. And they achieved just that, emerging 5-2 winners after a high-octane match.

(Women’s) China vs Argentina 1-2:

Most of the early chances were in the favour of China, but it was Argentina who struck the first score in the second quarter.A brilliant run down more than half the pitch ended with Agustina Albertarrio firing it into the circle. The ball diverted off a Chinese defender towards the goal where a diving Alina Piccardo just managed to get his stick on the ball before it crossed the line making a score for the opponent. 

China found a well-earned equaliser just five minutes later. Gu Bingfeng and Dan Wen came together to get the ball to Zhong Jiaqi who passed it across for Zhang Ying to lift it into the net. It totally felt like a repeat match between the same two sides three days ago, Los Leonas(Argentina) made the decisive blow in the dying minutes of the match.

It resulted in Argentina finishing the mini-tournament in Eindhoven on top of the table with 29 points in their 14 games so far. China have now ended up their FIH Hockey Pro League campaign with 10 points. That leaves them in seventh place but in danger of elimination as the two teams below them, the USA and New Zealand, still left with 8 games in the tournament ahead.

Agustina Albertarrio was awarded player of the match and said: “It was a tough match, really physical so we are really happy with the team and to win, for sure. Now we have to rest and we’re looking forward to playing against New Zealand. It’s going to be really hard.”

(Men’s) Netherlands vs Australia 5-2:

Timo Boers led from the front by opening the scoring for the Netherlands with his first senior international goal – a clinical drag off his side’s first penalty corner of the match. The lead went on for less than three minutes, with Nathan Ephraums taking charge of the ball on the edge of the circle. After mistraps from both sides, it popped back out for Ephraums to take the shot and gain the equaliser on both sides but it popped back out for Ephraums to take the shot and secure the equaliser.

The Netherlands were back on the attack not long after. Joep de Mol’s injection into the D hit defender Jeremy Hayward’s stick and shot up for Tjep Hoedemakers to volley it into the back of the net. The home side struck again when a quickly taken ball by Koen Bijen was passed to an unmarked Duco Telgenkamp waiting in the circle to sweep it into the goal for the 3-1 lead.

The Aussies were awarded a penalty corner when five minutes were left in the half and Hayward’s drag caught a small deviation off the first Dutch runner’s stick on its way into goal. Telgenkamp strike back once again at the centre of the action in the third quarter. He received the pass at the top of the D and drilled it into the post for his fifth goal in only his third international match. 

Timo Boers then completed his duo in the final quarter, drilling  it in another one from a well-taken penalty corner. While they had plenty of opportunities, the Aussies failed to strike through the shield of defence in the second half and the Dutch gave the home crowd plenty to whoop for completing the match by 5-2 redemption victory.

Floris Middendorp was awarded as player of the match and said: “This is a great feeling. I think we had to get revenge after 7-2, it is quite a lot so I think we did great today. We spoke about the same topics [as on Friday] but we had to execute them better and today we did so that’s good. I think we learned to get better every single game. We proved that also, improving every single game and making better steps.”

FIH Pro League – 12 June 2023

HC Oranje-Rood Stadium, Eindhoven (NED)

Result: Women’s Match 48

China 1-2 Argentina

Player of the Game: Agustina Albertarrio (ARG)

Umpires: Hannah Harrison (ENG), Sarah Wilson (SCO), Céline Martin-Schmets

Result: Men’s Match 48

Netherlands 5-2 Australia

Player of the Game: Floris Middendorp (NED)

Umpires: Laurine Delforge (BEL), Ben Goentgen (GER), Sarah Wilson

Also read: https://spogonews.com/financial-aid-for-pakistan-hockey-before-champions-trophy-in-chennai/