FIH Pro-League: Spain and Australia women, Belgium men bounce back as Dutch men wrap up campaign on top

It was a day of triumphant turnarounds as Belgium’s men and Spain and Australia’s women’s sides bounced back from defeats at the hands of the same opposition just a day earlier.

But for the Belgian women, the day brought disappointment as they saw their hopes of a first FIH Hockey Pro League title slipping further away after going down to the side they’d beaten by six goals on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the Netherlands men wrapped up their campaign with a shootout win over England and will have to wait to see whether they’ve done enough to remain in top spot on the table.

The other shootout of the day was contested between India and Argentina, with the South Americans earning themselves a vital extra point for the win. And it was once again a tough day for Ireland’s men as they conceded another six goals to Australia.

(Women’s) India 2 – 2 Argentina (SO: 0 – 2)

Argentina saw their two-goal lead eroded in the final quarter of a 2-2 draw against India in scorching 35-degree heat in London. But they showed their quality by winning the shootout 2-0 for a bonus point. Playing conditions were brutal, with the players taking the extended quarter interval breaks under cover to escape the heat.

India were dominant at the start. The quality of the teamwork and individual touches in their build-ups was simply superb, and they led the circle penetration and penalty corner stats. They are just missing that killer instinct in front of goal this season. Agustina Gorzelany was having no such problems for Argentina, however, and she struck from both of their penalty corner opportunities, in the 27^th and 37^th minutes for a 2-0 lead at half time.

Savita made an excellent save to keep India in touch and Navneet Kaur gave them real hope in the 50^th minute, beating her marker at the top of the circle and striking cleanly into the bottom corner. Deepika then levelled matters with her 56th-minute drag flick, setting up a tense finish. Argentina pressed hard in the dying minutes, but the match ultimately went to a shootout, where they prevailed.

Sofia Cairo of Argentina was named the player of the match and said: “It was a hard match, but that point was very important.”

(Women’s) Belgium 0 – 1 Spain

Spain overturned their six-goal loss to Belgium on Tuesday to win the return match 1-0 in Antwerp, ending the Belgians’ hopes of winning the FIH Pro League this season.

Both teams had chances in the first half, but Spain was in the ascendancy, and only some excellent saves from Elodie Picard kept the score respectable at half time. Patricia Alvarez then fired Spain ahead in the 14^th minute, intercepting a 16-yard hit and showing great pace and skill to beat a defender and find the backboard with a clean strike.

Belgium lifted their effort in the second half and Clara Perez found herself working hard in goal for Spain. Florencia Amundson had a golden opportunity to kill the game off for Spain, but after eliminating the goalkeeper, she didn’t get any power on her flick, allowing Belgium to clear their lines. The Belgians fought gamely to the final whistle, but they lacked the penetration they enjoyed on Tuesday, and they couldn’t find a goal.

The player of the match was awarded to Spain’s Paula Jiménez, who said: “I am very proud. We played a very complete game with all the things that they said yesterday, putting emphasis on the important areas and doing it very well.”

(Women’s) England 0 – 3 Australia

Australia bounced back from a 1-0 defeat a day earlier, defended resolutely, and made their chances count in an excellent 3-0 win over hosts England in London.

There wasn’t much to separate the two sides in the first half. England produced wave after wave of attack in the opening quarter, and Australia fought back in the second. The opening goal in the 26^th minute was of the highest quality from the Hockeyroos, Jade Smith finishing a team move with a first-time slap over the last brave defender on the line.

There was desperate defence and excellent goalkeeping from both teams in the third quarter, and it took a bit of luck for Australia to double their lead in the 44^th minute. A feed into the circle deflected horribly off an English defender and popped to the p-spot for a diving Grace Stewart to loft it over the keeper with her slap shot. The Aussies put the result beyond doubt in the 50^th minute, when Stewart dispossessed England in their 23-yard area and fed to Greta Hayes for a good tap-in under pressure from the goalkeeper.

Australia’s Tatum Stewart received the player of the match award and said: “I think the team has been putting in a lot of effort behind closed doors, so to come out today and put a win on the park in a good game is really nice going forward.”

(Men’s) Ireland 1 – 6 Australia

Sean Murray marked his 150^th cap for Ireland in a losing cause as Australia claimed a comfortable 6-1 win in an ill-tempered encounter.

It was always going to be a physical clash, and the umpires did well to manage the tension that bubbled just under the surface throughout. As they’ve done so often, the Irish started well, leading the possession and penalty corner stats without finding a goal. Australia took the lead from a penalty corner in the 11^th minute, when Nathan Ephraums reacted fastest to a rebound from postman Peter McKibbin’s excellent save on the line. Ireland equalised with a Lee Cole drag flick in the 17^th minute, but the Australians suddenly turned up the heat. Jeremy Haywood regained the lead with his 21st-minute drag flick and Ephraums made it 3-1 a minute later, his diving first-time slap screaming into the top right corner.

Australia were already firmly in control by the 37^th minute when Craig Marais intercepted a poor Irish pass and thundered a shot high into the net, and Davis Atkins added a well-placed slip under the shoulder two minutes later. Ky Willott wrapped up the scoring in the 57^th minute with one of the best goals of the tournament. Australia counterattacked from inside their own 23-yard area, throwing a long aerial ball towards Tom Craig. He read the bounce perfectly and knocked the ball over the last defender from above his head. Ky Willott received the ball in space and bunted neatly into the net.

The player of the match was awarded to Australia’s Ky Willott, who said: “It’s very nice to get these victories on board. This is our fifth in a row now, and two games against Ireland, they’re a very tough opponent and a very proud country, so it’s no easy feat.”

(Men’s) Belgium 6 – 3 Spain

Belgium reversed Tuesday’s result with a comfortable 6-3 win over Spain, dominating all the stats and probably missing the chance to post an even bigger result.

Alex Hendrickx scored the first goal from a drag flick in the 15^th minute, the hooter actually sounding during the penalty corner. The second period then saw Tom Boon and Arthur de Sloover contribute field goals, and Hendrickx added a penalty stroke as the Red Lions stormed to a 4-0 lead by half time.

The match looked to be cooling off after a goalless third quarter, but it sparked back to life again in the final period. First Marc Miralles pulled one back for Spain with a penalty stroke in the 46^th minute. Belgium replied immediately with a goal of the highest quality. Victor Wegnez found Boon at the top of the circle. He then held the ball up briefly before slipping it beautifully under his shoulder for the charging Guillaume Hellin to slap it in. Nicolas Alvarez tapped in a second for Spain in the 51^st minute, and Pepe Cunill’s drag flick four minutes later gave them a flicker of hope. But Roman Duvekot had the final say for Belgium with a 59th-minute penalty corner rebound to wrap up the emphatic win.

Victor Wegnez of Belgium was awarded the player of the match and said: “I think the game should have ended maybe 8-0, but the game is 6-3 so I cannot be happy with that because we stopped playing forwards the last 10 minutes and they could score two goals, so it’s a point that we have to work on.”

(Men’s) England 1 – 1 Netherlands (SO: 2-4)

The Netherlands finished their FIH Hockey Pro League campaign with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against England and then clinched the shootout for a bonus point. It leaves the door slightly ajar for Australia and Germany, but there is very little room for error from either team.

There was nothing to separate the teams in the first half, although Derk Meijer, in goal for the Dutch, had more work to do while James Mazarelo only had to watch one go wide at his end.

Both sides missed from penalty corners at the start of the third quarter, but the Dutch started to gain the ascendancy as England’s discipline began to fail them with two silly green cards. Jip Janssen then put the Netherlands ahead with his 42nd-minute drag flick, and James Albery made England’s task harder with an unnecessary yellow card in the 45^th minute. England weathered the storm and then struck within seconds of the Dutch receiving a green card. They immediately moved the ball up the right side, where Rohan Bhuhi scored with an excellent reverse stick shot. There was no lack of attacking intent, but no further goals. As a result, the match went to a shootout, where the Netherlands came out on top.

Justen Blok was named player of the match for the Netherlands and said: “I think it was a big fight, yesterday also big fight, but we’re really happy with the bonus point… I think it was a tough 10 days, but a lot of nice games, and now it’s time to celebrate.”

Current Hero Top Scorers:

Women – Yibbi Jansen (NED) (17 goals)

Men – Tom Boon (BEL) (18 goals)

To see the current standings in the FIH Hockey Pro League, click here.

FIH Hockey Pro League – 18 June 2025

Sportcentrum Wilrijkse Plein-Antwerp, Belgium (BEL)

Women

Result: Match 56 (W)

Belgium 0 – 1 Spain

Player of the match: Paula Jiménez (ESP)

Umpires: Ahmed Elsayed (EGY), Tim Meissner (GER), Daniël Veerman (NED-video)

Men

Result: Match 56 (M)

Ireland 1 – 6 Australia

Player of the match: Ky Willott (AUS)

Umpires: Federico Silva (ARG), Lorijn De Kraker (NED), Harry Collinson (ENG-video)

Result: Match 58 (M)

Belgium 6 – 3 Spain

Player of the match: Victor Wegnez (BEL)

Umpires: Aleisha Neumann (AUS), Harry Collinson (ENG), Paul Walker (ENG-video)

Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre, London, United Kingdom (UK)

Women

Result: Match 54 (W)

India 2 – 2 Argentina (SO: 0 – 2)

Player of the match: Sofia Cairo (ARG)

Umpires: Rebecca Edwards (ENG), Jonathan Von Hoesslin (RSA), Kamile Mockaityte (LTU-video)

Result: Match 55 (W)

England 0 – 3 Australia

Player of the match: Tatum Stewart (AUS)

Umpires: Alison Keogh (IRL), Irene Presenqui (ARG), Clare Barwood (WAL-video)

Men

Result: Match 57 (M)

England 1 – 1 Netherlands (SO: 2 – 4)

Player of the match: Justen Blok (NED)

Umpires: Raphaël Adrien (GER), Gemma Calderon (ESP), Jonathan Von Hoesslin (RSA-video)