12 Dec, 2025 It was a dramatic day of FIH Pro League action across Dublin and Santiago del Estero, with late goals, breakthrough performances and dominant displays shaping four compelling fixtures. England and Belgium traded momentum in a thrilling men’s draw before the English secured the bonus point in the shootout, while Ireland earned their first-ever Pro League points after a gritty 1–1 battle with England’s women. In Argentina, both national sides impressed on home turf. The Leonas fell to a clinical Dutch outfit in a rain-shortened 4–0 defeat, but the Argentine men delivered a sharp and composed performance to edge Pakistan 3–2 in one of the day’s most entertaining contests. (Men’s) Belgium 2 – 2 England (SO: 2 – 3) Having relinquished their early lead, England came from behind with 30 seconds left on the clock to pull off a 2-2 draw with Belgium and then take the extra point in the shootout. It was all Belgium in the opening phases of the game as the Red Lions enjoyed much of the possession and piled on the pressure, forcing a great early save from James Mazarelo. The English found their feet, however, and they were first to strike when Henry Croft hammered it in from the top of the circle off the first penalty corner of the match. While the Belgians showed plenty of patience in their build-up, the England defence made it difficult to create any real chances in the second quarter. All the action came at the other end, where a determined England were awarded four penalty corners on the trot. But the Belgians managed to prevent any further goals, with Maxime van Oost pulling off a particularly impressive diving save off the line to keep it 0-1 at half-time. Belgium created far more opportunities in the third quarter, but the English defence again held firm. The breakthrough finally came at the start of the fourth, with Arno Van Dessel deflecting in the equaliser in the 47th minute. The Belgians then snuck in front with a sensational goal six minutes later, as Nelson Onana deflected in from an acute angle. Not to be outdone, the English came up with a scorcher of their own. With just half a minute remaining, Jacob Payton’s first-time reverse strike from a high ball into the circle ensured England rescued the draw and then went on to claim the extra point with a 3-2 win in the resulting shootout. Henry Croft was named player of the match and said: “I feel great. Thanks to the boys for getting us through it… We just said let’s stick together, trust the process, because we’ve done a lot of work, and stay together as a group, and good things happen.” (Women’s) Ireland 1 – 1 England (SO: 4 – 3) Ireland claimed their first ever points in the FIH Hockey Pro League with a courageous 1-1 draw with England, then going on to clinch the shootout 4-3 for the bonus point. The Irish adapted faster to the extremely wet pitch conditions and dominated England in the first half. They won most of the 50/50 battles and ran freely on attack without reward in the opening quarter. They had some close calls in defence in the second, and goalkeeper Elizabeth Murphy had to save a penalty stroke in the 20th minute to keep matters level. English goalkeeper Miriam Pritchard stepped out quickly to shut down Sarah Torrans in the 26th minute, but Ireland’s hard work paid off a couple of seconds later. England turned over possession inside their own 23m area and Mikayla Power’s pass across goal found Torrans who slapped in for a 1-0 lead at half time The third quarter was evenly contested with both teams struggling to penetrate the circle. Elena Rayer equalised for England in the 36th minute from an almost identical play to Ireland’s goal, and the stage was set for a thrilling final quarter. Ireland applied almost continuous pressure at the start of the period. England weathered the storm and enjoyed some attacking of their own, only to be blocked by brave first-wave running from the Irish. There was late drama when the Irish caught England trying to run the ball out of defence with 15 seconds left on the clock, but Jessica McMaster’s snapped shot clattered into the side of the goal and the match went to a shootout. Ireland held their nerve to win that, much to the delight of the home fans. Mikayla Power was named player of the match for Ireland and said: “It feels amazing, second Pro League game, making our debut in Ireland yesterday and then our second game today with a big home crowd, it just means so much, and just so nice to get points on the table.” (Men’s) Argentina 3 – 2 Pakistan Argentina edged Pakistan 3–2 in a lively contest, surviving a spirited fightback to claim full points at home. Pakistan had an excellent start, playing at a high tempo that generated early chances. Waheed Ashraf Rana was the first to truly test the Argentine back line, but Tomas Santiago produced a strong close-range save. Rana came close again moments later, flashing a shot past the far post, while Argentina struggled to convert their own penalty corner opportunities — a Tomas Domene backhand rippling only the outside of the goal. Argentina finally broke through in the second quarter when Domene finished from close range after a sharp baseline sequence from Thomas Habif to Ignacio Nardolillo, who squared the ball perfectly for the finish. The lone goal held through to halftime. The third quarter exploded with action. Pakistan equalized through Muhammad Ammad, who got a clever touch on a Zikriya Hayat pass to make it 1–1. Argentina responded immediately with a superb pair of penalty-corner conversions just one minute apart — Nicolás della Torre firing low into the corner before Maico Casella launched a flick high into the net after a series of re-awards. Pakistan earned their own trio of

Continue Reading →

12 Dec, 2025 South Africa, Ireland, Japan and Spain closed out their participation with authority on Day 11 of the FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup City of Santiago 2025, a day dedicated to determining the positions from ninth to sixteenth place. South Africa’s win over Korea set the emotional tone, with a team determined to finish on a high, while Ireland capitalised on their collective solidity to defeat Wales and secure 13th place. In the South American–Asian clash, Japan found the necessary precision to overcome a Uruguay side that once again competed on equal terms. The final match of the day belonged to India and Spain, two teams that, based on their level, could easily have been among the top eight. They delivered a match befitting the weight of the battle for ninth place: high technical quality, sustained intensity and a result that rewarded Spain’s clarity in the decisive moments. Friday will determine the positions from 5th to 8th and from 17th to 20th, while Saturday will host the grand final between Argentina and the Netherlands. Below is the full breakdown of all matches on Day 11 in Santiago. South Africa vs Korea (Full-Time Score: 5–0) South Africa established control from the outset on the synthetic surface of the Centro Deportivo de Hockey Césped, managing tempo and long circulations to settle frequently in the attacking third. High pressing produced quick recoveries and seven circle entries in the opening phase, crowned by Anja Tromp’s 1–0 finish in the 3rd minute following a short sequence after a penalty corner. In Q2, the South African structure remained firm as Thabelani Metu extended the lead in the 19th minute, followed by a transition completed by Ntsopa Mokoena for 3–0 in the 24th minute. Variations from the penalty corner produced three consecutive executions between minutes 29 and 30, consolidating territorial dominance before half-time. Upon resumption, South Africa maintained rhythm through controlled exits and alternating direct play with wide circulation. Another penalty corner in the 36th minute allowed Tromp to score the 4–0. The closing stretch combined game management with intermittent pressure and drag-flick variations, one of which led to Teshawn de la Rey’s 5–0 in the 56th minute. Korea generated five penalty corners but South Africa defended all attempts with organisation in their 23m and disciplined closing of lines. South Africa finished in 15th place, while Korea concluded in 16th. After the match, Ntsopa Mokoena expressed, “We came here with a mission to perform, and even though the tournament wasn’t so good in the middle, we decided to finish it on a good note. The key learning is to stay united, play as a team, trust one another and give your best in every moment. Thank you to everyone at home for supporting us, we really appreciate it.” Wales vs Ireland (Full-Time Score: 0–3) Ireland opened with territorial control, repeatedly entering the Welsh 23m through stable circulation and pressure in the build-up. In Q1, Ireland produced four circle entries and three consecutive penalty corners between minutes 9 and 10, sustaining their attack until Matilde Errico scored with a deflection in the 13th minute following a high recovery. Wales responded through transitions but without converting their early approaches. In Q2, Ireland continued to force penalty corners from wide combinations, while Wales resisted with a low defensive block. The match remained balanced in circle entries in Q3, though Ireland managed possession phases more effectively. In Q4, Ireland converted twice from penalty corners: Milla Fulton struck for 2–0 in the 52nd minute with a direct execution, and Amy Handcock added the 3–0 two minutes later. Ireland secured 13th place, while Wales concluded in 14th. Player of the Match Milla Fulton expressed, “I’m really happy we managed to end on a high today. We knew it would be tough, but we really came out strong and it was a good win for us. I’m really happy with the performance and looking forward to the next steps.” Uruguay vs Japan (Full-Time Score: 0–1) Uruguay and Japan contested a tightly balanced match, with alternating possessions and compact defensive structures on both ends. Q1 featured cautious circulation, with seven Japanese entries and four from Uruguay, all denied by low defensive lines. In Q2, Uruguay earned three consecutive penalty corners between minutes 19 and 29 but could not break through Japan’s compact structure. Japan found efficiency early in Q3: a short aerial pass initiated a double touch in the air inside the circle, where Sana Hayasuke finished with a subtle first-time effort less than a metre from goal for the 1–0 in the 33rd minute. Uruguay generated another penalty corner in Q4 but without clear execution options. Japan managed the final stretch with control and finished in 11th place, while Uruguay concluded in 12th. Uruguay’s Sol Martínez expressed, “Despite the final result, we are extremely proud of what we achieved here. Finishing in this position is historic for Uruguay. Even though today was not our day, this makes us stronger. The main lesson is that we are right there, and it all comes down to details. We will keep working.” India vs Spain (Full-Time Score: 1–2) India and Spain delivered a high-level contest for ninth place, with Spain showing greater clarity in circulation and in their exits from the back. Spain progressively opened spaces along the right flank until the breakthrough in Q2: a driven cross from the wing and a delicate deflection from Natalia Vilanova redirected the ball entirely for the 1–0 in the 15th minute. India struggled to generate circle entries in the first half and relied on defensive work inside the 23m. Q3 concentrated the drama. India briefly drew level, but the goal was overturned following a video umpire referral detecting an infringement. Immediately afterwards, Spain struck from a penalty corner: a clean reception at the top and a low, firm strike from Esther Canales made it 2–0 in the 35th minute, her second goal of the night. India cut the margin through a penalty corner executed by

Continue Reading →

11 Dec, 2025 In the classification pathway, Austria defeated Namibia and Malaysia advanced from the shoot-out against Zimbabwe to secure the play-off for 21st place. Scotland overcame New Zealand, also in a shoot-out, to reach the final for 17th place, and Chile closed the day with a 2–0 win over Canada to qualify for the first final of the Challenger Trophy. The day combined classification matches, position-defining fixtures and the confirmation of the teams that will fight both for the world title and for the specific objectives of each competition segment. Below is the full breakdown of all matches on Day 10 in Santiago. Austria vs Namibia (Full-Time Score: 3–1) Namibia opened the contest with greater offensive clarity on the synthetic surface of the Centro Deportivo de Hockey Césped, finding depth in the early minutes and capitalising on a high regain that led to a field goal from captain Azaylee Philander in the 4th minute. The African side maintained this initiative with three penalty corners in the opening stages, while Austria needed to adjust their controlled outlet to balance possession and generate their first circle entries. The improvement became evident late in Q1 when Katharina Bauer equalised from a penalty corner in the 8th minute, following the first set-piece sequence from the European team. After the restart, Austria advanced with more continuity, establishing long spells of possession in opposition territory and accumulating circle entries leading to further penalty-corner attempts. Katharina Proksch turned the match around in the second quarter with a set-piece conversion in the 21st minute, and extended the lead early in Q3 in the 30th minute, again from a penalty corner. With three conversions from six attempts and without conceding from Namibia’s four opportunities, Austria managed the final minutes with a compact defensive structure that limited transitions and maintained order until the end, securing their place in the 21st-place play-off, where they will face Malaysia. The Player of the Match, Katharina Proksch, expressed, “We are very happy that we won, of course. We did not have the best start to the game, but we turned it around and won 3–1, and I am just so proud of my team because it is such a young team with so many young girls, and I think it is very nice that they can have this experience here”. Malaysia vs Zimbabwe (Full-Time Score: 3–3, SO: 5–3) Malaysia and Zimbabwe contested the second fixture of the 21/24 bracket in the Chilean capital, aiming to stay in contention for 21st place. Malaysia took the initiative from the outset, settled early possession in the attacking half and opened the scoring in the 13th minute with a field goal from Tamijt Nor after strong circulation on the synthetic turf. Zimbabwe replied with three circle entries and one penalty corner in the first half, but without turning these approaches into clear shots, while Malaysia maintained the 1–0 lead at half-time through an organised defensive structure and controlled outlets. After the restart, the Asian side extended their dominance, amassing eight circle entries and three penalty corners in Q3, one of which produced the 2–0 goal, finished by Ridzuan Nurdini in the 33rd minute. The 3–0 came in Q4 when Mohd Siti scored in the 49th minute following a high regain. When the match seemed decided, Zimbabwe reacted with sustained pressure and three goals in seven minutes: Hares Chelsey-Lee pulled one back in the 54th minute from a set-piece sequence, Amber Tozana narrowed the gap in the 56th minute also from a penalty corner, and in the 59th minute Rebeca Winsor equalised 3–3 with a field goal, forcing a shoot-out. In the shoot-out, Malaysia converted all five attempts, while Zimbabwe scored three and missed their final effort, sealing a 5–3 result that sends Malaysia into the 21st-place match against Austria, with Zimbabwe to contest 23rd place against Namibia. The Player of the Match, Mohd Nur, expressed, “Thank you for the recognition. I am very proud of my team and I hope that we can achieve a record position in the next match”. New Zealand vs Scotland (Full-Time Score: 2–2, SO: 2–3) New Zealand and Scotland met in the 17–20 classification route of the Challenger Trophy at the Centro Deportivo de Hockey Césped, with a powerful start from the Europeans. Scotland struck twice in Q1: first through Mhairi Low from a penalty corner in the 11th minute, and then with a field goal from Caterina Nelli in the 12th minute for a 2–0 lead. With five circle entries and very high pressure, the British side dictated the early rhythm, while New Zealand only began to find connections in Q2, although without breaking the defensive line and with a green card to Emelia Surridge that interrupted their momentum. After the break, the Oceania team translated their statistical dominance –23 circle entries and eight penalty corners– into goals. Niamh McKenzie reduced the deficit in the 37th minute with a set-piece conversion and, in Q4, captain Riana Pho equalised 2–2 from another penalty corner in the 51st minute, completing a comeback based on persistence and variation of resources. Scotland resisted with discipline, even while receiving green cards for Nelli and Low in the second half, and took the match to a shoot-out. In the shoot-out, the Scots were more accurate, converting three of four attempts, while New Zealand scored twice, sealing the 3–2 result that sends the Europeans into the final for the Challenger Trophy awarded to the 17th-place finisher. Scottish captain Connie Roxburgh highlighted the team’s character, expressing, “We are very happy, it was a very tough match and New Zealand made it very difficult for us, but the two goals in the first quarter gave us a good base. I am very proud of the fight from all the girls. Now we are very excited about the Challenger Trophy and we want to finish the tournament as high as possible”. Netherlands vs Belgium (Full-Time Score: 0–0, SO: 3–0) The semi-finals featured one of their most tactical contests with the

Continue Reading →