FIH Pro League Women: Germany vs. England 4:1 (2:0)
Revenge successful: Danas win against England
After the unfortunate 4-3 defeat on Wednesday, the Danas did much better in the second game against the English, winning the match 4-1. The goals for the German team were scored by Charlotte Stapenhorst, Nike Lorenz, Hannah Gablac and Pia Maertens. With Hannah Martin on the scoresheet for the Englishwomen after a penalty corner.
Dana’s start furiously
In the first few minutes, it was obvious to the Danas that they wanted to make people forget the unfortunate defeat on Wednesday. And after just two minutes, the Danas took the lead after a great 3-D hockey solo by Charlotte Stapenhorst. Four minutes later, Nike Lorenz brought the team back after England goalkeeper Miriam Pritchard failed to clear a ball. In the ninth minute, Germany keeper Julia Sonntag made her mark as she saved a Hannah Martin shot from a tight angle. The English goalkeeper, Pritchard, was able to parry a penalty corner that was taken too centrally by Danas (11′).
Intensive defensive work, few chances
The second quarter started intensely, but without clear chances to score. Although the English women now had more of the game, it was not really dangerous in the German circle. Charlotte Stapenhorst, the scorer to make it 1-0, was shown a green card four minutes before half-time after being too close to her opponent, putting her team outnumbered for two minutes. The now more and more deeply standing Danas survived the phase of ten but without conceding a goal. We went into the break with a deserved 2-0 lead.
The English came out of the dressing room with verve, but didn’t really pose a threat in front of the German goal. The Danas managed to relieve some of the pressure with a penalty corner, but Sonja Zimmermann’s shot was too central and therefore no problem for the English goalkeeper Miriam Pritchard (33′). In the following minutes, a wild game developed, which quickly went back and forth. However, there were still few great chances to score.
Turbulent final phase in SparkassenPark
The English women still had 15 minutes to give the 2-0 a positive turn from their point of view, but several circle entries initially remained without a goal. A penalty corner converted by Hannah Martin after 50 minutes brought excitement into the game again. Benedetta Wenzel had chances to decide seven minutes from time, but her shot from a tight angle went too center and was parried by the England keeper. But just a minute later the ball was in the English box for the third time. Sonja Zimmermann was initially unable to control a German penalty corner, but the ball landed in a roundabout way with Hannah Gablac, who shot the ball into the goal to make it 3-1. And things were about to get even better for the Danas. Two minutes before the final whistle, Pia Maertens missed a ball in the circle,
With 16 points after ten games, the Danas are fourth in the FIH Pro League table.
Comments on the game:
Valentin Altenburg, national coach:
“We played a very intense game with a really strong start. Our actions were really fast. We then had to work really hard in two quarters to keep the English women out of our circle. We were a very good fortress today. We had some trouble controlling the game with the ball. The girls defended with a lot of heart and for each other, so that in the end we were able to get a deserved win, which I’m very happy with.”
Sonja Zimmerman:
“It was definitely an improvement on yesterday’s game. We were able to implement exactly the points that we had planned. We defended together as a team and designed the build-up. We can now leave with a big smile.”