05 Dec, 2025 Day 4 of the FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup City of Santiago 2025 delivered one of the largest scorelines of the tournament as China defeated Austria 11-0, supported by a hat-trick from Wang Lihang and sustained efficiency from set pieces. England also collected three points with a 4–1 win over South Africa, while Canada and Scotland drew 1-1 in a match defined by alternating phases of territorial control. Australia secured progression to the next round with a 4-2 victory over Spain, consolidating their position among the contenders for the title in Chile. The day closed with a 1-1 draw between Belgium and Argentina, two evenly matched teams who mirrored each other’s structure in a balanced contest decided by a penalty corner at each end. Below is the full breakdown of all matches on Day 4 in Santiago. South Africa vs England (Full-Time Score: 1-4) At the Centro Deportivo de Hockey Césped of the Estadio Nacional, England established control from the start, settling in the attacking half and generating thirteen circle entries in the opening quarter. That pressure translated into the 1-0 goal from Freya Robinson in the 10th minute following a penalty corner sequence. South Africa adjusted their shape in the second quarter, producing six circle entries and four penalty corners, but were unable to convert that period of pressure into clear shots on target, keeping the score unchanged at half-time. After the break, England regained full command of the structure and moved 2–0 ahead in the 43rd minute through a field goal by Lottie Bingham. In the final phase, they consolidated the result with set-piece efficiency: Biba Mills added a penalty corner goal and later scored from a penalty stroke to make it 4-0. South Africa reduced the margin in the 55th minute through Ntsopa Mokoena, their only conversion after fourteen circle entries and four penalty corners, compared with England’s thirty-two entries and nine PCs. England managed the closing minutes with an organised defensive block to secure the 4-1 result. England forward Sofia Martin said, “We have been working really hard recently and this performance reflects that, especially after the 2-2 against China. We are happy to score four today, we will keep building for the next game against Australia and we really appreciate all the support from home and in the stands.” China vs Austria (Full-Time Score: 11-0) In the second match of the day at the Centro Deportivo de Hockey Césped in Santiago, China, who had drawn their opening fixture, quickly imposed full control on the synthetic turf. With thirteen circle entries and five penalty corners in the first quarter, they went 2-0 up through goals from Wei Qixiao and Li Jingyi, while Austria did not register a single circle entry. The pattern continued in the second quarter as China held 67% possession, generated seven additional circle entries and extended the score to 5-0 with further goals from Li Jingyi, captain Hao Guoting and Tan Lei, keeping Austria deep inside their 23m. After half-time, China’s dominance shifted decisively to set pieces. Across the third and fourth quarters, they produced eighteen circle entries and twelve penalty corners, converting six of them to complete the 11-0 result, with a hat-trick from Wang Lihang and additional goals from Zuo Dandan, Hu Linyuan and a second from Hao Guoting. Austria managed only three circle entries and one penalty corner across the entire match, without finding ways to disrupt China’s structure or reach the scoreboard. Chinese player Wang Liheng, the best player of the match, said, “We worked together in a good spirit.” Canada vs Scotland (Full-Time Score: 1-1) In the first match of the afternoon, Scotland struck early and maintained long spells of control but ultimately left with the feeling of a missed opportunity against a Canada side that showed significant improvement from their opening match. The European team opened the scoring in the 8th minute through Mhairi Low after one of their ten circle entries in the first quarter and held the 1–0 lead until half-time, supported by a constant attacking presence marked by fourteen circle entries in the first half. Canada, meanwhile, did not register circle entries or penalty corners before the break. After half-time, Canada adjusted their pressing structure and pushed higher up the pitch, finding better passing connections and generating four circle entries and three penalty corners across the second half. The equaliser arrived in the 30th minute when Zoe Furber finished an attacking transition to make it 1-1. Scotland maintained the initiative until the end, accumulating thirty-four circle entries and six PCs overall, but were unable to translate that volume into a decisive goal and were left to settle for a draw. Canada captain Katherine Gibb said, “We grew a lot from our game against Australia, we defended hard together and now we just need to keep playing forward and attacking as a group.” Zimbabwe vs Wales (Full-Time Score: 0-3) Wales established territorial control early on the synthetic turf of the Estadio Nacional, generating repeated circle entries and sustained pressure across Q1 and Q2, although they were unable to convert their six first-half penalty corners. Zimbabwe sat in a low block, cutting passing lanes and managing transitions to limit danger, despite receiving a green card in the opening quarter. Upon the restart, Wales found efficiency through set pieces: Cradden opened the scoring in the 39th minute with a penalty stroke following a sequence of consecutive PCs. In Q4, Wales maintained depth and possession, extending the lead with another penalty stroke converted by Witham in the 56th minute and a field goal from Diamond in the 57th, both emerging from quick recoveries and control inside the attacking third. Zimbabwe generated two late penalty corners but were unable to break the Welsh defensive structure, with Wales remaining in contention for the top positions with this win. Player of the Match Eloise Moat said, “We’re really happy. After half-time we stepped it up and showed the intensity we wanted. We’re proud of the team,

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04 Dec, 2025 The FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup Tamil Nadu 2025 entered the classification rounds for the 9-16 and 17-24 positions on Thursday in Madurai and Chennai after a day’s break. The teams missing out on the quarterfinals are now vying for the best possible finish, with the best placed team in the 17-24 bracket also receiving the Challenger Trophy, an initiative from FIH President Tayyab Ikram. The day saw exciting hockey across eight matches in Madurai and Chennai, including the tournament’s first shootout, a historic win for Bangladesh and a tough grind for Australia. Here’s a blow-by-blow account of the proceedings. Namibia vs Austria [Full-Time Score: 2(0)-2(2)] The opening match for the 17thto 24thclassification positions produced the first shootout of the tournament that saw Austria scoring two goals to Namibia’s none and take home a win after the regulation time of 60 minutes ended at 2-2 in Madurai. All four goals were scored in the second half, as Namibia broke the deadlock in the 40thminute with John-Paul Britz’s penalty-corner strike. The next five minutes saw the game swinging like a pendulum. Austria equalised in the 42ndminute through Benedikt Meisel. The very next minute, Britz scored again off a PC to put Namibia ahead 2-1 but Austria closed the third quarter by making it 2-2, thanks to Julian Kaiser converting a PC. The last quarter didn’t produce any goals, and the match progressed to a tie-breaking shootout. Namibia’s one-one-one skills produced four disappointing failures, as Abraham Graham, Josh van der Merwe, James de Jager and Mathew Lassen failed to go past Austrian goalkeeper Lorenz Breitenecker. The two conversions for Austria by Meisel and Andor Losonci, thus, proved enough to confirm victory. “I had to keep the ball outside my goal. I specialise in shootout. I don’t know what else to say. I am really happy about it,” said Austria’s custodian and shootout star Brietenecker. “We are really motivated for the Challenger Trophy and want to give our best.” Bangladesh vs Oman (Full-Time Score: 13-0) Bangladesh outplayed Oman in Madurai, producing 13 goals to register a comprehensive and historic first win – courtesy a penalty-corner masterclass produced by Amirul Islam who scored five goals. Rakibul Hasan too scored a hat-trick, hitting three field goals. The Oman defence was left to fend off a flurry of Bangladeshi attacks that produced five more goals off the sticks of Mohammad Abdullah and Mohammad Saju, both of who scored a brace, while Obidul Joy struck once. “Winning is always good. That’s why we play hockey, to win. I think we progressed with every match,” said Bangladesh coach Siegfried Aikman. “Our target is to improve match by match and play the best hockey we can. We were in a tough pool but that gave us an opportunity to play at a level that we have never done. This World Cup with 24 teams is a blessing for teams like us. Now we know where we have to improve.” England vs Chile (Full-Time Score: 3-1) Disappointed to not be among the quarterfinalists, England began their classification-round (9thto 16thplace) journey with a 3-1 win over Chile at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium in Chennai. The English team got themselves into a comfortable position by the 19thminute, scoring two goals — produced by Kaden Draysey and Max Anderson. The second quarter witnessed two more goals, with Chile cutting England’s lead to 2-1 when Javier Vargas got on the scoresheet in the 23rdminute. But Jonny Sturch-Hibbitt’s goal four minutes later restored England’s two-goal advantage at 3-1. The last two quarters saw some shoddy finishing, especially by England, leaving the second half of the match devoid of any goals. “It was a good (game). We needed to come out with good energy and the boys did well to getover the line. Looking forward to the next game and we’ll try to win every game from here,” said England’s Cole Pidcock. Looking back at the pool stage, he added, “We had a first game against Holland, probably one of the better teams here. We played really well; in fact, I think we played well the entire tournament.” Korea vs Egypt (Full-Time Score: 6-3) After struggling to hit their stride in the pool stage, Korea defeated Egypt 6-3 in Madurai on Thursday. Minhyeok Lee stole the thunder with four goals – three off penalty corners and one off a penalty stroke. Korea led 3-1 at half-time. After Egypt scored the first goal of the match in the 8thminute through Basel Abdelmonem on a penalty corner, the Koreans levelled it up with Lee’s first goal in the 18thminute. Soon after in the second quarter, JeongSeob Song and Seowon Park also found the mark to make it 3-1. Lee increased that lead to 4-1 just two minutes into the third quarter but Egypt and Abdelmonem’s second goal pulled it back. In the final quarter, Lee scored his third and fourth goal in the 50thand 52ndminute to place Korea comfortably ahead at 6-2. Egypt did score their third goal through Mohamed Ghanem, but it only came in the final minute of the match. Speaking after the match, Korea’s captain Seunghan Son said, “I think we had a good start and did well to lead 3-1 at half-time. Then we scored three more goals and had a good time.” South Africa vs Malaysia (Full-Time Score: 3-1) Jaydon Brooker’s brace led South Africa’s fighting 3-1 win over Malaysia, after the match in Chennai opened with a goalless first quarter. Brooker ended the stalemate in the 18thminute off a penalty corner to take South Africa to half-time leading narrowly at 1-0. Nine minutes into the third quarter, he converted another PC to put his side ahead 2-0. Malaysia fought back in the third quarter, when a 48th-minute goal by Aqil Mat reduced South Africa’s lead to 2-1. But the game was put to bed by Ross Montgomery who got the South Africans their third goal on a penalty corner with just over two minutes left on

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Dec 4, 2025 In their second game of the tournament South Africa faced a slick English outfit eager to ignite their own campaign after drawing their opening match with China. It proved a far tougher assignment for the young South Africans who fought throughout but ultimately fell to a four one defeat. England came out with real intent and their pace and precision created a wave of early pressure. South Africa absorbed as much as they could but the breakthrough eventually arrived from a penalty corner that gave the English a deserved lead. South Africa responded with two early penalty corners of their own in the second quarter as they pushed hard for a way back into the contest. While the opportunities did not produce the equaliser the quarter was far more balanced as the South Africans settled into the tempo and restricted the European chances. The half closed with England holding a one goal advantage. The match stayed alive through the third quarter with South Africa working tirelessly to stay within reach, but England found a crucial second in the final minute of the period through Lottie Bingham which shifted the momentum once more. England added further goals in the final quarter through a penalty corner and a penalty stroke which widened the margin more than the general flow of the game suggested. South Africa kept competing and were rewarded late on when Ntsopa Mokoena reacted quickest to a rebound to pull one back. South Africa now turn their attention to their final pool match against China where they will look to finish as high up the group as possible. Source: SAHockey.co.za

Dec 4, 2025 South Africa held their nerve in a testing quarter-final of the 9–16 playoffs, overcoming a spirited Malaysian side 3–1 after a first half in which the Asian nation threatened repeatedly on the counterattack. It was a performance built on patience, resilience and moments of brilliance, particularly from goalkeeper Daniel Dillon, who delivered one of the standout displays of the tournament so far. South Africa dominated possession from the outset, controlling the tempo and dictating the patterns of play, but Malaysia’s counterattacks were razor sharp and carved out the better opportunities in the opening half. Dillon was required far more often than the South Africans would have liked, but each time he was called into action he responded superbly. His save of the half, a breathtaking one-on-one stop against Kairil after a turnover high up the field, kept the game level and lifted his team. South Africa were creating chances of their own, and their best move of the opening quarter saw Leruo Dithakhanyane slip through Reuben Sendzul, but the hit man was unable to apply the finishing touch as the game remained finely poised. Early in the second quarter South Africa finally earned their first penalty corner, and after a series of re-awards, Jaydon Brooker stepped up and unleashed an unstoppable drag flick to give the African champions a deserved lead. Dillon then produced a world-class double save to protect the advantage, and although South Africa thought they had doubled the margin just before the half, the umpire ruled dangerous play in the buildup. The score remained 1–0 at the break. The third quarter brought further opportunities from penalty corners, and once again Brooker delivered, rifling home another superb set-piece to stretch the lead to 2–0. But Malaysia were not out of it. Their pressure from a penalty corner finally paid off when Aquila Mat produced a deft deflection to beat Dillon and set up a tense final phase. South Africa responded with composure, continuing to push forward in search of the goal that would settle things. That moment arrived with three minutes remaining when Ross Montgomery converted a penalty corner to make it 3–1. South Africa even found the net again in the final minute, but the whistle had already gone and the goal could not stand. The 3–1 victory moves South Africa into the 9–12 bracket, keeping alive their pursuit of a top-10 finish. They will face either Ireland or Switzerland in Saturday’s crossover semifinal as the classification phase continues. Source: SAHockey.co.za