After a 102-day break, FIH Hockey Pro League action resumed in sizzling style in Valencia and Amsterdam on Saturday.
The Netherlands women were in scintillating form, trouncing Australia by seven goals while the Dutch men eked out a 2-1 victory over India.
Over in Valencia, hosts Spain struggled as Argentina’s women pulled off an impressive victory, while their male counterparts clinched a narrow win.
(Women’s) Spain 0 – 6 Argentina
Argentina fired an early warning at the start of the final stretch of the FIH Hockey Pro League with a convincing 6-0 win over Spain. It was a clinical first-half performance that secured the result, as they climbed to third place in the standings.
Argentina opened the scoring in the fourth minute when Zoe Diaz received a cross near the top of the circle and had enough time for a full strike from just two touches. Las Leonas went on to control the first half, disrupting Spain with a high press and extending their lead when Brisa Bruggesser got to the back post from open play for a 24th-minute deflection. Argentina then piled on the pressure to lead 4-0 at half time, after Agustina Gorzelany nailed a penalty stroke in the 26th minute, and Victoria Granatto bagged a field goal in the 29th.
Spain stepped up to dominate the third chukka, creating circle entries and winning penalty corners, but they couldn’t find the goal that might have triggered a comeback. Goalkeeper Clara Perez showed good form for Spain, making an excellent stick save from a penalty stroke to keep their slim hopes alive, but the structure was simply too loose, and Argentina kept finding space to attack. Lourdes Pisthon added a 50th-minute deflection from open play, and Gorzelany completed her brace with a 58th-minute penalty stroke.
The player of the match was awarded to Argentina’s Miranda Victoria who said: “We are very happy with this match. I think we played a great match today.”
(Women’s) Netherlands 8 – 1 Australia
The Netherlands claimed a sensational 8-1 win over Australia, much to the delight of the vocal home crowd in Amsterdam. The hosts started at a furious pace, needing just a minute for Yibbi Jansen to bag a rare field goal with a thunderous reverse strike from the top of the circle. Pien Sanders then added a neat sliding deflection at the left post in the third minute. Australia found themselves under tremendous pressure throughout the first half, with goalkeeper Aleisha Power forced to make two sensational saves to keep them in contention. The Dutch went to half time 2-0 ahead and in full control.
The Hockeyroos finally struck in the 31st minute when Mariah Williams squeaked a reverse stick shot in at the near post from a wide angle. They continued to look good throughout the quarter, but a storm was brewing even as the Dutch looked to be struggling somewhat to connect with their passes. Jansen scored with a sizzling drag flick in the 43rd minute, and Marijn Veen added a deflection from open play to end the period. Joosje Burg then poached one off the goalkeeper’s pads in the 46th, and Jansen completed her hat-trick with a carbon copy of her earlier drag flick in the 47th. Frédérique Matla added a cheeky individual goal with a reverse strike from the baseline, and Luna Fokke closed the scoring with a blistering strike into the top right corner.
Felice Albers received the player of the match for the Netherlands and said: “I think the first half was a little bit tough, and then the second half we saw our attack was really good… Of course, there are some things we can improve for the next game.”
(Men’s) Spain 0 – 1 Argentina
Argentina managed to grind out a narrow 1-0 win against hosts Spain in a tight encounter in Valencia.
The only opportunity of a goalless first half fell to the Spanish, who dispossessed an Argentinian defender in his own circle, but the shot went wide and the arm wrestle resumed.
Spain had the better chances throughout the match and tested Thomas Santiago in the Argentinian goal throughout the second half, but they simply couldn’t convert their chances. Argentina finally broke the deadlock in the 42nd minute when Nicolas Della Torre’s drag flick deflected horribly off a Spanish runner to beat the goalkeeper. Spain threatened right to the final whistle, but Santiago’s last-second save saw the ball trickle wide, summing up Spain’s afternoon.
Argentina’s Nicolas Delle Torre was named the player of the match and said: “It was a really tough game… It’s always tough to play here against Spain.”
(Men’s) Netherlands 2–1 India
The Dutch came from behind to snatch a late 2-1 win over India in the final match of the day in Amsterdam.
India had arguably the best of a goalless opening quarter, and only some sharp work from Maurits Visser in the Dutch goal denied them an early lead. There were half chances at both ends to start the second quarter, but Harmanpreet Singh’s scorching drag flick in the 19th minute was simply too good for the Dutch defence. Thijs van Dam responded with a well-executed flick from open play after India were dispossessed outside their circle, and the scores were locked 1-1 at half time.
The hosts looked most likely to score through the third period, but they lacked that final touch in front of goal, and the stage was set for a thrilling finish. With the match seemingly destined for a shootout, the Dutch threaded some excellent passes together for Van Dam to snatch the lead with two minutes remaining. India immediately pulled their keeper off to chase a result, but time wasn’t on their side, and they very nearly conceded a third in a frantic finish.
The player of the match was awarded to the Netherlands’ Floris Middendorp, who said: “I think it was quite an exciting game, right? It’s been some time since we were playing together, so it’s good to be back… We’ve been away for some time, so I think it’s just getting used to each other again.”
Current Hero Top Scorers:
Women – Yibbi Jansen (NED), Agustina Gorzelany (ARG) (7 goals)
Men – Tom Boon (BEL) (14 goals)
To see the current standings in the FIH Hockey Pro League, click here.
FIH Hockey Pro League – 7 June 2025
Estadio Betero, Valencia, Spain (ESP)
Women
Result: Match 37 (W)
Spain 0 – 6 Argentina
Player of the match: Miranda Victoria (ARG)
Umpires: Rebecca Edwards (ENG), Daniël Veerman (NED), Jonas Van’T Hek (NED-video)
Men
Result: Match 37 (M)
Spain 0 – 1 Argentina
Player of the match: Nicolas Della Torre (ARG)
Umpires: Jonas Van’T Hek (NED), Pauline Cuypers (BEL), Rebecca Edwards (ENG-video)
Wagener Stadion, Amsterdam, Netherlands (NED)
Women
Result: Match 38 (W)
Netherlands 8 – 1 Australia
Player of the match: Felice Albers (NED)
Umpires: Magali Sergeant (BEL), Michael Dutrieux (BEL), Ivona Makar (CRO-video)
Men
Result: Match 38 (M)
Netherlands 2 – 1 India
Player of the match: Floris Middendorp (NED)
Umpires: Lukasz Zwierzchowski (POL), Sébastien Michielsen (BEL), Ben Goentgen (GER-video)
