The day’s FIH Hockey Pro League action started on a sombre note with a minute’s silence observed for those affected by the tragic Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad on Thursday.
In the match that followed, it was Argentina’s men who gained the upper hand with a second straight win over India to lift themselves to second spot on the log, while the Dutch men romped to victory against a luckless Ireland.
In the other match of the day, the Dutch women found several higher gears to completely unravel Spain after their tight match just a day earlier.
(Women’s) Netherlands 11 – 2 Spain
The Netherlands gave their fans plenty to applaud with a ruthless 11-2 win over Spain.
Having struggled to crack Spain open on Wednesday, the Dutch got off to a flying start. Fay van der Elst slapped in a field goal within 90 seconds of the pushback, and Yibbi Jansen added a drag flick in the fifth minute.
The Dutch hit their straps in a frantic second quarter with two drag flicks from Jansen (17, 30), and field goals from Marijn Veen (21), Frédérique Matla (23) and Luna Fokke (25). Goals for Spain from Patricia Alvarez (19), arguably the best one of the day, and Laura Barrios (21) initially slowed the assault, but by half time the hosts were running rampant with a 7-2 lead.
The Dutch could easily have added more than two drag flicks in the third quarter (31, 42) as Jansen took her tally for the match to five goals, but several opportunities were missed. Pien Dicke then banged in a loose ball in the 49th minute, and Fokke completed her brace 10 minutes later to seal the rout.
Yibbi Jansen of the Netherlands received the player of the match award and said: “We made 11 goals, so that’s very good, a lot better than yesterday, so we’re happy with the result.”
(Men’s) India 1 – 2 Argentina
Argentina snatched a dramatic 2-1 win over a dominant India, who have been playing well but struggling to finish.
There were excellent opportunities for both teams throughout the first half, and Jugraj Singh gave India the perfect start, beating goalkeeper Tomas Santiago with his fourth-minute drag flick. Tomas Domene then levelled the scores by rocketing his drag flick over Patak’s right shoulder five minutes later. India gained the ascendancy as the half progressed, and only a brilliant performance by Santiago kept the scores level at half time.
Argentina had the best chance of an evenly contested third quarter with a penalty corner, but Jarmanpreet Singh cleared superbly off the post. Domene then fired Argentina ahead in the 49th minute, launching another scorching drag flick over Patak’s right shoulder. The stage was set for an exciting finish, although nobody would have predicted the drama to come. India pulled off their goalkeeper with a little over two minutes remaining and immediately won a penalty stroke, which they converted. The goal was subsequently disallowed on review by the video umpire for the striker’s foot being ahead of the ball. But the stroke was re-awarded for the goalkeeper moving off his line early. Santiago then saved the second attempt, and Argentina hung on for a dramatic win.
Argentina’s Tomas Santiago was nominated as the player of the match and said: “We needed to defend hard. We know that India is really aggressive and a very good team, so we know that we need to be very focused and very compact in defence. Of course, it’s a pity to concede the stroke in the last minute, but it’s good to keep the result.”
(Men’s) Netherlands 6 – 2 Ireland
The Netherlands extended their lead at the top of the standings with a solid 6-2 win over Ireland.
The Irish put in a good first quarter, testing Dutch goalkeeper Hidde Brink early, and seeing some fine saves from Luke Roleston in their own goal. They carried that energy through to the second quarter and gave the hosts a couple of scares before Jip Janssen fired the Netherlands in front with a 24th-minute drag flick. Terence Peters then showed great reflexes to double the lead, swatting a loose ball in from waist height in the five minutes later. Roleston made another magnificent save from open play on the stroke of half time to keep it close at 2-0.
The Dutch started to assert their dominance in the third period, Janssen converting a penalty stroke in the 32nd minute, and Pepijn van der Heijden adding a drag flick five minutes later. Ireland were afforded some reward for their hard work in the 47th minute, when Ben Nelson received the ball at the top of the circle and squeezed it into the net off the back foot. But the Netherlands wasted no time in responding as Joep Troost followed play into the circle unmarked and picked up a half volley from close range. Ben Nelson then completed his brace for Ireland with sharp reactions to a bobbling ball in front of the goalkeeper in the 58th minute, but Thijs van Dam had the final word for the Dutch with his tap-in at the final whistle.
The player of the match went to Lars Balk of the Netherlands who said: “Four games in five days is tough but we are happy with the win. We prepared ourselves really well and we are in shape so we can do it as a team.”
Current Hero Top Scorers:
Women – Yibbi Jansen (NED) (16 goals)
Men – Tom Boon (BEL) (14 goals)
To see the current standings in the FIH Hockey Pro League, click here.
FIH Hockey Pro League – 12 June 2025
Wagener Stadion, Amsterdam, Netherlands (NED)
Women
Result: Match 42 (W)
Netherlands 11 – 2 Spain
Player of the match: Yibbi Jansen (NED)
Umpires: Lukasz Zwierzchowski (POL), Ben Goentgen (GER), Sébastien Michielsen (BEL-video)
Men
Result: Match 43 (M)
India 1 – 2 Argentina
Player of the match: Tomas Santiago (ARG)
Umpires: Bunge Coen Van (NED), Michiel Otten (NED), Magali Sergeant (BEL-video)
Result: Match 44 (M)
Netherlands 6 – 2 Ireland
Player of the match: Lars Balk (NED)
Umpires: Ivona Makar (CRO), Michael Dutrieux (BEL), Ben Goentgen (GER-video)
