Two goals in the space of a minute from Rosie Malone has given the Hockeyroos an impressive 3-0 win over Germany in their FIH Pro League match at the Sydney Olympic Park Hockey Centre.
Malone struck twice in the 24th minute to reward a dominant Hockeyroos first half and it was a lead they would not relinquish as Grace Stewart sealed the result late on.
The victory follows Friday’s shootout win over China to give the Hockeyroos five points from their opening two matches of the FIH Pro League 2022-23 season.
Wearing their specially designed Indigenous uniform as part of the First Nations themed match, the Hockeyroos had the better of the opening stanza.
Brooke Peris hammered a tomahawk straight at Germany goalkeeper Nathalie Kubalski.
The Hockeyroos then thought they had won a penalty stroke when the umpire blew her whistle after a Maddy Fitzpatrick drag flick was blocked illegally off the goal line, only for the decision to get overturned because the ball was adjudged to have hit the back of a Hockeyroo stick.
Germany manufactured a couple of half chances before Claire Colwill went close twice as the Hockeyroos continued to threaten.
Malone then blew the game apart in the space of 60 scintillating seconds. Great build up play saw the 25 year old blast a tomahawk into the roof of the net for her first, then within the blink of an eye she was in again when she slotted home from near the baseline after a telling flick on from Courtney Schonell.
Jocelyn Bartram made a reflex stick save low down to her right to prevent Germany from pegging a goal back early in the third quarter as the visitors started to enjoy more time in their attacking half.
Germany’s cause was aided when Schonell was shown a yellow card to leave the Hockeyroos down a player for five minutes.
Nike Lorenz, Player of the Match in yesterday’s win over China, tried her best to inspire Germany but she could only blaze a tomahawk high over the crossbar.
Peris was then denied from adding the Hockeyroos’ third when Kubalski saved her slick shot on the reverse.
Still staring at a two goal deficit, Germany took a risk by removing their goalkeeper with nine minutes remaining in an attempt to capitalise on the extra outfield player.
However, a well structured Hockeyroos defensive unit refused to give an inch and their resoluteness was rewarded when Stewart put the icing on the cake, finishing a swift Hockeyroos counterattack to knock the ball into an empty German net.
There was still enough time for Head Coach Katrina Powell to give Zoe Newman her Hockeyroos debut as she replaced Bartram for the final two minutes.
“We have prepared really well as a team and everyone playing as a unit allows me to keep my scoring run going,” said Malone who was named Player of the Match for the second time in the series.
“We know Germany has a really strong midfield, so winning that battle was crucial for us and we did that today.”
The Hockeyroos are back in action again tomorrow for their second match against China at 6.30pm AEDT.
Match Details
Hockeyroos 3 (Malone 24’/24’, Stewart 58’)
Germany 0
@ Sydney Olympic Park Hockey Centre
Hockeyroos: 1.Claire Colwill, 2.Rosie Malone, 3.Brooke Peris, 4.Amy Lawton, 5.Grace Young, 6.Penny Squibb, 10.Maddy Fitzpatrick, 13.Hattie Shand, 14.Stephanie Kershaw, 15.Kaitlin Nobbs (c), 16.Courtney Schonell, 18.Jane Claxton, 19.Jocelyn Bartram (gk), 24.Mariah Williams, 29.Rebecca Greiner, 30.Grace Stewart, 41.Zoe Newman (gk), 42.Maddi Smith
