The final day of the Amsterdam mini-tournament brought with it the 500th FIH Hockey Pro League match as New Zealand’s women took on Germany. Despite Germany’s dominance throughout, it was the Black Sticks who eventually prevailed 3-1 in a shoot-out after the match ended goalless, so keeping alive their hopes of avoiding relegation. Later in the day, the already relegated Black Sticks men couldn’t prevent the Netherlands from continuing their quest for FIH Hockey Pro League honours. The Dutch claimed a comfortable 4-1 victory to take a step closer to overtaking Great Britain at the top of the standings, with two matches remaining. Both Spain and Belgium also remain in the running for the men’s title, making for a thrilling final mini-tournament in Antwerp, starting on Friday.
(Women’s) New Zealand vs Germany 0-0 (SO: 3-1)
Germany were on top for the majority of the first half, making regular forays into the circle and taking shots on goal. But the New Zealand defence stood firm, keeper Grace O’Hanlon in particular, making several excellent saves in the second quarter to keep the score 0-0 at the break.
Despite more German pressure, the third quarter also remained goalless. Then with just seconds remaining in the match, Germany’s keeper Julia Sonntag was brought into meaningful action for the first time. Olivia Merry came nail-bitingly close to sneaking an upset win but Sontag did exceptionally well to keep it out. That took the match to a shoot-out where O’Hanlon once again proved to be the star, helping her side to clinch it 3-1.
The two points for New Zealand rather than three in their final match of the tournament means China’s women are safe from relegation thanks to their superior goal difference. The USA still have four more matches to play and can ensure their safety by securing three more points.
Hope Ralph was named Player of the Match and said: “I’m so proud of the girls. We fought right to the end and after the last few games it was really important for us to go out there and let everything out of the tank and we did that… It’s out of our hands now but we’ve done our part today so we’ll just hope for the best.”
(Men’s) Netherlands vs New Zealand 4-1
Some sensationally speedy teamwork saw Teun Beins and Thijs van Dam combining to feed the ball through to Bijen Koen who lifted it into the roof of the net for the home team’s opener. Just three minutes later, an attack down the left-hand side finished with Tjep Hoedemakers passing the ball back from the baseline for Jair van der Horst to tap it in and double that lead.
A spectacular save from New Zealand keeper Leon Hayward in the opening seconds of the third quarter prevented his side from dropping further behind. Instead, the Black Sticks pulled one back towards the end of the period with a move down the right. Sam Lane had a swing and a miss after taking it into the circle (which was deemed not to be dangerous on review) and recovered well to cross it in for Dylan Thomas to slot it in.
After a goal from Thierry Brinkman, playing his 150th match for the Netherlands, was disallowed, Jip Janssen fired in the home team’s third off a penalty corner, dragging it through the keeper’s legs. Moments later, the Dutch were awarded a penalty stroke after a bad tackle during a goalmouth scramble, and Jasper Brinkman drilled it into the left corner to wrap up a 4-1 victory.
Terrance Pieters was named Player of the Match and said: “We started pretty well I think. We were 2-0 up at half-time and then we had the feeling that we still needed one more goal to seal the game, which we couldn’t quite get in the third quarter. New Zealand came back to 2-1 so then it was very close again, but I think we managed to play well at the end, stay calm and get the victory.”
To see the current standings in the FIH Hockey Pro League, click here.
FIH Pro League – 28 June 2023
Wagener Hockey Stadium, Amstelveen (NED)
Result: Women’s Match 66
New Zealand 0-0 Germany (SO: 3-1)
Player of the Game: Hope Ralph (NZL)
Umpires: Xiaoying Liu (CHN), Irene Presenqui (ARG), Gabriel Labate (ARG-video)
Result: Men’s Match 66
Netherlands 4-1 New Zealand
Player of the Game: Terrance Pieters (NED)
Umpires: Gabriel Labate (ARG), Annelize Rostron (RSA) Xiaoying Liu (CHN-video)
By FIH
