The opening day of the inaugural version of the FIH Hockey Males’s Nations Cup 2 Oman 2025 bought off to a blistering begin with all 8 groups in motion throughout 4 video games that noticed a mixed whole of 25 objectives scored! In Pool A Egypt and Poland bought off to profitable begins, with each side claiming three factors in shut encounters in opposition to China and Chile respectively. The scoreline in Poland’s 4-0 win over Chile was significantly misleading with the sport hanging on a knife’s edge till a late flurry by the Polish aspect. In Pool B, USA and Austria confronted off in one other tight battle with USA impressing in assault, however their failure to transform on a plethora of huge possibilities meant they needed to depend on their equally superb defence within the last quarter to return away 1-0 winners. The final sport of the day noticed hosts Oman face off in opposition to Scotland in what turned out to be a one-sided contest with the guests beautiful the hosts with an enormous 10-1 win.
Egypt 5 – 4 China
China began the sport on the entrance foot creating two circle penetrations inside the first two minutes, but it surely was Egypt who scored first by means of Ahmed Elganaini, catching the Chinese language out with a fast counter assault, to attain the primary aim within the FIH Hockey Nations Cup 2 historical past! China stormed again within the second quarter with two fast hearth objectives to take the lead, however Egypt wouldn’t go away and two objectives within the last minute of the half gave them a 3-2 lead and all of the momentum going into the break.
The groups continued to commerce objectives within the second half with China hanging first to tug degree, however Egypt blitzed once more late within the third quarter so as to add two extra objectives and construct a lead they’d not lose until the ultimate whistle. Though China made the African aspect sweat by pulling inside one aim late within the last quarter, Egypt held on to win 5-4 and take all three factors from the opening encounter.
Ahmed Elganaini was awarded participant of the match for his two objectives that helped get Egypt over the road.
Chile 0 – 4 Poland
The second match of the day ushered in a extra managed type of hockey following the breathtaking motion of match one. Poland had been dominant within the opening half but it surely took them till the seventeenth minute to make their possession depend with Tomasz Bembenek opening the scoring by means of a penalty nook and that may be the one aim to be scored within the opening 30 as each groups felt one another out with out committing to an all out assault.
Penalty corners as soon as once more proved to be the distinction within the third quarter as Poland capitalised and scored from their third nook of the sport, Chile didn’t convert their very own PCs, permitting Poland to take a 2-goal lead into the ultimate quarter. Poland completed the sport off with a second penalty nook aim of the half from Maksymilian Koperski and a discipline aim from Mikolaj Gumny to return away snug 4-0 winners from the Pool A match-up.
Mateusz Popiołkowski was awarded participant of the match for his stellar efficiency within the aim for Poland and stated: “Round 10 gamers within the squad immediately have come from the Indoor Hockey World Cup and we wished to point out we are able to compete simply as nicely within the outdoor as nicely, so we’re pleased with the large consequence to open the event.”
Austria 0 – 1 USA
USA made a quick begin to the sport scoring by means of an early penalty nook by Sekayi Charasika within the sixth minute, however a lot of the primary half was performed with the groups taking part in watchfully. The groups traded spells of possession with out inflicting both defence a lot headache. Austria couldn’t bother USA keeper Klages from their two penalty corners within the second quarter because the United Wolves took a slender lead into the half-time break.
USA had a spectacular third quarter, creating a number of possibilities together with a penalty stroke taken by Aki Kaeppeler, however didn’t convert any of them, with Austrian keeper Jakob Kastner starring for the Crimson Capricorns. Austria got here again with a significantly better last quarter however the USA defence, significantly their penalty nook defence with some unimaginable dashing and final line holding by Jonathan Klages helped them keep their 1-0 lead and get to the ultimate whistle to select up the essential 3 factors within the Pool B.
Jack Heldens was awarded participant of the match and stated: “We’re thrilled to be right here and we left all the pieces on the market on the pitch immediately, so glad the consequence got here our means. All credit score to the workforce for enjoying so laborious and sticking to the plans.”
Scotland 10 – 1 Oman
The ultimate sport of the day noticed hosts Oman tackle Scotland within the Pool B encounter. Earlier than Oman might settle into the sport, Scotland had blitzed them a number of occasions to win penalty corners galore and by the point the primary half ended, the guests had run up the rating to 7-0 with 5 penalty nook objectives and two discipline objectives just about sealing the three factors for them by the point the half-time hooter sounded.
Scotland added two extra objectives within the third quarter with Andrew McConnell finishing his hat-trick of objectives from penalty corners and Ali Douglas flying in to place the ending touches to an excellent workforce transfer by the Scottish. Oman lastly bought on the board within the last quarter scoring by way of an Ammaar Al Shaaibi drag flick from a penalty nook, however the aim counted for little greater than comfort, particularly with Craig Falconer including a late aim for the Scottish aspect taking their aim tally into the double digits.
Struan Walker was awarded the participant of the match and stated: “We’re buzzing after the efficiency. We’re a very younger workforce with some gamers getting their first cap immediately, so shout out to them. Two massive video games arising within the pool stage, so we’re joyful to start out off with a giant win immediately.”
To see the present standings within the FIH Hockey Nations Cup 2, click on right here.
FIH Hockey Nations Cup 2 – 17 February 2025
Hockey Oman Venue, Muscat, Oman
End result: Match 1
Egypt 5-4 China
Participant of the match: Ahmed Elganaini (EGY)
Umpires: Tyler Klenk (CAN), Hussain Al Hasani (OMA)
End result: Match 2
Chile 0-4 Poland
Participant of the match: Mateusz Popiołkowski (POL)
Umpires: Sourabh Rajput (IND), Sheena Hori (JPN)
End result: Match 3
Austria 0-1 USA
Participant of the match: Jack Heldens (USA)
Umpires: Ilanggo Kanabathu (MAS), Mohammad Ali Shahbaz (BAN)
End result: Match 4
Scotland 10-1 Oman
Participant of the match: Struan Walker
Umpires: Clare Barwood (WAL), Titus Mulwa (KEN)
