FIH: Dutch Men Keep Title Hopes Alive As Belgium Women Defeat GB

The Netherlands men came from a goal down to beat Belgium and so keep their FIH Hockey Pro League title hopes alive. Australia currently top the standings but the Dutch can still overtake them with victory in their remaining two matches.

In the other match of the day, Belgium’s women continued their momentum from their upset victory over the Netherlands on Monday to get the better of Great Britain.

(Women’s) Great Britain 1 – 2 Belgium

Belgium lacked their usual intensity after a memorable victory over the Netherlands just 20 hours earlier, but still managed to grind out a 2-1 win over Great Britain. The Red Panthers went ahead in the 80^th second of an action-packed first quarter when Ambre Ballenghien reacted fastest to a scrappy ball in front of goal.

Charlotte Watson hit back with a penalty stroke for GB after their PC struck Stephanie Vanden Borre’s foot on the line. It was then Vanessa Blockmans who slapped the Belgians back in front from a penalty corner in the 9^th minute, and only an excellent reflex save from Jessica Buchanan denied them a third after GB were dispossessed outside their own circle. There were fewer opportunities in the second quarter with both teams missing from penalty corners, but GB enjoyed repeated success in disrupting the Belgians with a high press.

The British side earned a penalty corner early in the third quarter and it took a triple save from Elodie Picard to keep it out. They held a slight advantage through the rest of the period, but struggled in the final third of the pitch and never really threatened the circle.

Charlotte Englebert fired a great opportunity for Belgium over the crossbar in the fourth quarter before GB created some real chances, mishitting a shot from the top of the circle, and having a penalty corner saved before hitting the crossbar from the rebound and then pushing the third shot wide. GB substituted their goalkeeper with just under five minutes left on the clock, but they still couldn’t find a goal. The Red Panthers also missed one golden opportunity, failing to control the ball behind the GB defence with an empty goal beckoning, but they had done enough to clinch the win.

The player of the match was awarded to a relieved Vanessa Blockmans of Belgium who reflected: “That’s for sure not our best game. I think our connection and intensity was not very great, and I think the little details and everything, so for the next game we just need to start from the beginning.”

(Men’s) Netherlands 3 – 1 Belgium

The Netherlands kept their ambitions of winning a third straight title alive with a heated 3-1 win over Belgium. Good defence from both teams meant that there was little opportunity in the first half. But Belgium scored a well-worked goal in the 18^th minute, breaking out of defence quickly and finding Tom Boon for a difficult shot near the p-spot.

The second half served up expansive hockey from both teams. The Dutch created three excellent opportunities in the first five minutes, and tempers ran high when a shot after the whistle struck a Belgian defender. The Red Lions counterattacked to earn two penalty corners, but the Dutch runners blocked both.

Jip Janssen eventually equalised for the Netherlands with a 41^st-minute drag flick, and the quarter ended just after Tijmen Reyenga cannoned the Dutch ahead with 10 seconds left on the clock. The Netherlands carried their momentum into the final quarter and Joep de Mol sealed the result with a brilliant individual goal, carrying the ball from his own half and unleashing a sizzling strike from the top of the circle. Belgium substituted their goalkeeper in the dying minutes, but they couldn’t find another goal.

Joep de Mol of the Netherlands received the player of the match award and said: “I don’t think we played our best game, that’s a bit of an understatement. I think we struggled a lot with our basics, with our trapping of the ball, our passing was all a bit sloppy. But in the end, I think we did a good job in the second half to turn it around, but if we want to achieve something this summer I don’t think we can be satisfied with this game.”

Top Scorer Armband

To celebrate the talented goal-scorers throughout the season the FIH has introduced the Top Scorer Armband, which is being worn by the leading goal-scorers in the men’s and women’s competitions in the current season, as a visual mark for the fans, and for the players to wear proudly, match after match.

Current Top Scorers:

Women – Yibbi Jansen (NED) (17 goals)

Men –Jip Janssen (NED) (14 goals)

To see the current standings in the FIH Hockey Pro League, click here.

FIH Hockey Pro League – 25 June 2024

SV Kampong, Utrecht (NED)

WOMEN

Result: Match 68 (W)

Great Britain 1 – 2 Belgium

Player of the match: Vanessa Blockmans (BEL)

Umpires: Ayden Shrives (RSA), Sandra Adell (ESP), Wanri Venter (RSA-video)

MEN

Result: Match 68 (M)

Netherlands 3 – 1 Belgium

Player of the match: Joep de Mol (NED)

Umpires: Jonas Van’T Hek (NED), Rachel Williams (ENG), Hannah Harrison (ENG-video)