(Hockey news) A red-hot performance from Belgium’s men saw any Spanish hopes of nailing a first-ever FIH Hockey Pro League title going up in flames as the final mini-tournament of the season got underway in Antwerp. The home side’s 7-2 victory saw the Olympic champions taking a step nearer to Great Britain at the top of the table with three matches remaining. 

With Spain now out of the running, only GB, Belgium, and the Netherlands remain in the hunt for the men’s title. Earlier in the afternoon, Germany’s women produced a clinical performance, demolishing the USA 6-0. The result means the Americans now only have three more matches to try and secure the three points needed to avoid relegation.

(Women’s) Germany vs USA 6-0:

Having fallen to score in their previous encounter despite enjoying the upper hand throughout their match against New Zealand, Germany wasted no time in getting themselves on the scoresheet this time around. Within the first minute of the match, Charlotte Stapenhorst fought her way through the American defence in the circle to pop it through for Lisa Nolte to tap in her first senior international goal off the post.

Their second was scored with a vicious reverse stick strike from Felicia Wiedermann into the bottom corner after Sonja Zimmerman fed the ball to her at the top of the D. Zimmerman then drilled in the third herself after an initial attempt from a penalty corner was stopped by the first runner. Less than two minutes later Pauline Heinz fired a fantastic pass into the circle for a running Stapenhorst to add the finishing flicker for Germany’s fourth.

After Ashley Hoffman skipped a chance to pull one back for the Americans when her penalty stroke was held, the unbeatable Stapenhorst added her second of the match, delivering a lovely lifted ball into the roof of the net. There was one more to come from the Germans, Anne Schröder positioning up Wiedermann to slot in her second to wrap up the 6-0 win.

Charlotte Stapenhorst was named Player of the Match and said: “We had so much energy in it and we were really darting forward to playing against the USA here so we’re really happy with the result.”

(Men’s) Belgium vs Spain 7-2:

Spain trounced first when Jordi Bonasrtre fired towards the goal and Alvaro Iglesias got the touch just in front of the keeper to hand the Red Sticks the early pointer. Belgium shot straight back off a penalty corner when the initial effort was held but the Spanish defence cleared the ball straight onto a waiting Victor Wegnez’s stick who trapped it faultlessly and slotted in the equaliser.

Four minutes before the end of the quarter a snappy pass brought Belgium’sFlorent van Aubel in on the action. His first attempt was saved, but he made totally sure of the rebound to hand the home side the lead. The Belgians were around on the attack early in the second quarter. Belgium’s Arno van Dessel worked his way down the right and passed it across the goal for a reaching Alex Hendrickx to tap in one-handed for the Belgians’ third. 

Both Loïck Luypaert and then Hendrickx scored off penalty corners to take the home side into the half-time break 5-1 up. While Spain enjoyed much of the control and created plenty of pressure in the third quarter, they just couldn’t make a mark in the deficit, all the efforts of the Belgian keeper Vincent Vanasch paid off. There were two more goals for the Belgians in the final period. 

First Wegnez gathered up a pass from Nelson Onana and drilled it in for his second of the night. Then John-John Dohmen fed the perfect finish to cap off his 450th appearance for the Red Lions by powering in his side’s seventh goal. Joaquin Menini’s goal with just under three minutes remaining in the match was little solace for Spain as the Belgians wrapped up a massive 7-2 victory. 

Victor Wegnez was named Player of the Match and said: “Today I think we played a fantastic hockey game in the first half. Then in the second half, we struggled a little bit more. Of course, we can still do better but it’s a pretty good step forward for Belgium in the Pro League and the youngsters are playing amazingly so it’s nice for Belgium’s future.”

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