FIH Pro-League: Germany Women Avenge Shootout Loss, England Men Pick Up Second Win

It was a bit of déjà vu for Argentina, as both the women and men finished with similar outcomes to their matches on Tuesday.

In their second game against Germany, the Argentina women finished regulation with a draw yet again. This time however, it would be Germany who bested the hosts in shootouts to claim the extra point.

The Argentina men fell to England for the second time in three days by the same scoreline of 3-1.

(Women’s) Argentina 1 (4) – 1 (5) Germany

Germany needed less than one minute to find a lead. A free hit from Lisa Nolte outside the 23 bounced into the circle where Sophia Schwabe got a stick on it. After a long video review that ended in no advice possible, Germany was up 1-0. With a fire beneath them, Argentina pushed up on the attack, but were unable to convert despite two penalty corner chances.

The second quarter continued with a somewhat frantic feel to it, featuring contentious play between the two teams. Argentina finally was able to channel their efforts when Brisa Bruggesser picked up a rebound and sent a shot into the cage. The match headed into halftime tied up at 1-1.

Bruggesser earned a penalty corner for Los Leones three minutes into the third, but a botched reception ruined the chance. It looked like an almost certain goal for Germany at minute 35 when Johanna Hackenberg stole the ball from Gorzelany in Argentina’s defensive circle. A two-on-one situation, Schwabe was unable to execute a strong hit, and Gorzelany redeemed herself with a goal-line save. Germany won two set piece chances, but both were saved by Mercedes Artola, who was in good form.

Neither team wanted to end the match with a draw, and the fourth quarter saw chances on both sides. Another poor reception thwarted a Germany penalty corner chance in the 56^th minute, and a reverse chip from Yara Mandel was saved by Artola. For the second time in three days, the contest between Argentina and Germany would head to shootouts.

Argentina opted to defend first, and Germany’s Lena Frerichs – matched up against Artola in goal – made her attempt. Zoe Diaz kept it tied for Argentina with a reverse chip. Germany’s Schwabe and Argentina’s Julieta Jankunas kept the streak going, as did Sara Strauss and Bruggesser. Germany skipper Lisa Nolte redeemed herself after her attempt on Tuesday was called back, and Sofia Cairo tied it at 4-4 after four attempts. Kurz took the lead for Germany, and Kubalski made the crucial first save of the shootouts, stopping Agostina Alonso to give Germany a 5-4 shootout win.

Germany’s Linnea Weideman was named the Player of the Match and said: “We were really positive, but we weren’t really happy with our first half but we improved and that’s why we get the 1-1 and then we won the penalty that’s absolutely amazing. We’re such a young team we get so much energy from it and we hope that we can get it tomorrow against the Netherlands as well.”

(Men’s) Argentina 1 – 3 England

It was a red-hot start for England, particularly for Sam Ward in his 100^th cap for England. Ward scored off a drag flick just over a minute in when his team won a penalty corner, then again less than a minute later on yet another set piece. In the 10^th minute, Ward’s third chance was blocked by goalkeeper Nehuen Hernando, allowing Los Leones to make a fast break up the field and earn their own penalty corner. The chance was blocked, but Argentina finished out the first quarter on the attack, in desperate need of chances as they trailed 2-0.

Goalkeeper James Mazarelo continued to be tested as the second quarter got underway, fending off Argentina attempts. Halfway through the frame Agustin Machelett got unlucky when his penalty corner flick hit the post, but it was a well-played 15 minutes from the hosts.

The third quarter was back in favor of England in terms of chances, including a trio of early penalty corners that were defended well by Argentina. England found their third goal at minute 38 in true team fashion, as Zachary Wallace carried it in, passed to Thomas Sorsby, and got it back to score. Bautista Capurro floated a reverse shot over the crossbar not long after, kicking off a period of offensive chances for Argentina. With two minutes remaining in the quarter a penalty corner for the hosts materialized into a penalty stroke, which Tomas Domene put away.

A well-played final frame finished out with no further goals, as England put away their second win of the season, 3-1.

England’s Jack Waller was named the Player of the Match and said: “It was a little bit hectic, but I think we’re really proud of the performance. We talk a lot about winning, and we managed to get over the line, and that’s the most important thing today.”

Current Hero Top Scorers:

Women – Yibbi Jansen (NED), Charlotte Englebert (BEL), Vanessa Blockmans (BEL) (3 goals)

Men – Tom Boon (BEL) (8 goals)

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

FIH Hockey Pro League – 13 December 2024

Santiago del Estero Hockey Club, Santiago del Estero (ARG)

WOMEN

Result Match 10 (W): Argentina 1 (4) – 1 (5) Germany

Player of the match: Linnea Weideman (GER)

Umpires: Tyler Klenk (CAN), Jonathan Altamirano (MEX), Victoria Pazos (PAR) (video)

MEN

Result Match 10 (M): Argentina 1 – 3 England

Player of the match: Jack Waller (ENG)

Umpires: Sean Rapaport (RSA), Benjamin Peters (USA), Pauline Cuypers (BEL) (video)

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Where to watch the matches?

• Click hereto find out the list of all broadcasters showing matches in your country
• For the countries with no broadcaster featured, the matches are available HERE
• For a country with a broadcaster featured, the neutral matches (= matches where the team of this specific country is not playing) are also available HERE, except for India, the Maldives, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, South and Central America, the Caribbean and sub-Saharan Africa.

******MILESTONES:

ENG (M):

• Sam Ward (#13) – Argentina vs England, 13 December (if he plays the first 2 matches as well); 100 English caps

NED (W):

• Laura Nunnink (#20) – Netherlands vs Germany, 14 December (if he plays the first 2 matches as well); 200 caps