Already assured of the title, Belgium\u2019s men produced a heroic effort to come from four goals down and beat Australia 5-4 in a thrilling final match of the FIH Hockey Pro League season in Wavre on Sunday. In the other men\u2019s matches, Spain outgunned Germany 5-2, while India edged second-placed England in a shootout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Meanwhile, women’s champions the Netherlands also wrapped up their title-winning campaign in style with a 3-0 victory over Belgium. The result saw Belgium finishing in third place behind Argentina\u2019s women, despite Las Leonas\u2019 3-2 loss to England. Over in Berlin, Germany\u2019s women wrapped up their tournament with a massive 5-1 win over China to finish in fifth place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(Men\u2019s) Germany 2 \u2013 5 Spain<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Spain wrapped up their Pro League campaign with a come-from-behind 5-2 victory over Germany on another steamy day in Berlin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After applying plenty of early pressure, with Spain\u2019s Luis Calzado certainly the busier of the two keepers, Germany found the breakthrough in the eighth minute. Christopher Ruhr\u2019s backhand reverse shot was angled across goal for the unmarked Malte Hellwig to add the deflection, giving the home side the 1-0 lead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Germany continued to look dangerous on attack in the second quarter, but Spain earned their first penalty corner two minutes before half-time. The initial shot snuck through Jean-Paul Danneberg but was saved off the line by Hannes Muller, only for Inaky Zaldua to then flick the rebound into the top of the net.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With 27 seconds remaining in the half, Spain were awarded a penalty stroke, but Jose Basterra\u2019s strike hit the post. The Spanish made amends from a penalty corner 20 seconds later, however, when Pepe Cunill dragged one into the bottom right corner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Basterra also had a chance for redemption at the start of the third quarter when he dinked in Spain\u2019s third. Buoyed by their turnaround, the Spanish continued to control the third period and Basterra was again in the perfect position to fire in his second and Spain\u2019s fourth in the 34th<\/sup> minute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After failing to fire in the final quarter, Germany withdrew their goalkeeper with just under seven minutes remaining. They survived one penalty corner without a keeper thanks to another brilliant goal-line stick save from Muller, before the goalkeeper was brought back on after Teo Hinrichs was shown a yellow card. It made little difference, however, as Cunill converted Spain’s next penalty corner to make it 5-1. Jakob Brilla pulled one back for Germany from a penalty corner at the death, but it was scant consolation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nicolas Alvarez was named as Player of the Match for Spain and said: \u201cI think it was a tough game, a very difficult game \u2013 the last game of the Pro League against Germany in their home, but the team played very well and it was an important win to finish the Pro League.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n (Women\u2019s) England 3 \u2013 2 Argentina<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n England finished their campaign on a high note with a gritty 3-2 win over Argentina.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Argentinians enjoyed the ascendancy for most of the opening quarter and Eugenia Trinchinetti blasted them ahead in the 5th<\/sup> minute. They came away empty-handed from a couple more forays into the circle before England struck back from a penalty corner in the 11th<\/sup>. The variation under the shoulder to Anna Toman looked to have broken down at the top of the circle, but she adjusted her stance, moved the ball to her reverse stick and leathered it in. Agustina Gorzelany then shaved the upright on the stroke of quarter time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ellie Rayer found herself perfectly positioned to blast England ahead from a penalty corner rebound in the 16th<\/sup> minute, and Sophie Hamilton made a brilliant save on the post to deny Argentina the equaliser from a penalty corner barely a minute later. The balance of the quarter was contested hotly in the middle third of the pitch, and the half-time hooter sounded with England leading 2-1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Holly Hunt doubled England\u2019s lead with an open-play deflection from the p-spot in the 33rd<\/sup> minute, stranding the goalkeeper with the change in direction. England turned over possession in their red zone in the 41st<\/sup> minute and a scrambling Alice Atkinson had to make a desperate reverse stick tackle to shut down the shot, catching a stick to the head and needing to be bandaged up before returning in the final quarter. Gorzelany reduced the deficit for Las Leonas with a drag flick in the 45th<\/sup> minute, with time up on the clock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The fourth quarter saw chances at both ends, but even with Argentina sacrificing their goalkeeper to chase a result in the closing minutes, there were no more goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Holly Hunt was named Player of the Match for England and said: \u201cWe\u2019ve had a bit of an up-and-down couple of weeks of Pro League here, but it\u2019s just really nice to end on a win, and especially against Argentina as well, they\u2019re an amazing side, so we\u2019re just chuffed with the win.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n (Women\u2019s) Germany 5 \u2013 1 China<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Berlin crowd were made to wait, with six goals coming in the final 15 minutes as Germany secured a 5-1 win over China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Germans launched some early attacks but were unable to breach the Chinese defence. China were soon in on the action, with the best chances coming from Yu Anhui and Liu Chencheng. But German keeper Nathalie Kubalski did well to ensure her side stayed in contention as the first half came to an end with the teams still locked on 0-0.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The teams remained goalless through the third quarter. It was then Lilly Stoffelsma who finally found the breakthrough for the home team, after they earned a penalty corner 30 seconds into the final period, her long drag finding the bottom left corner. China couldn\u2019t capitalise on a penalty corner of their own, but Germany struck off a counterattack immediately afterwards, Jette Fleschutz firing in the breakaway goal just a minute after the Germans\u2019 first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n China took off their keeper with 10 minutes left in the match. While the extra outfield player did result in several chances, the move ultimately cost them. Sophia Schwabe guided Germany\u2019s third goal into an empty net with three and a half minutes remaining and Sara Strauss did the same on the breakaway moments later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The action was far from over, though, as China pulled one back through a late penalty corner drag from Tan Jinzhuang and Germany added one more via Sinja Zimmermann from their own PC with 20 seconds left on the clock to wrap up a 5-1 win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Germany\u2019s Lilly Stoffelsma was named Player of the Match and said: \u201cIt\u2019s pretty hot, but we really did such amazing games [in Berlin] and I\u2019m really proud of this team. We couldn\u2019t have ended these four days in Berlin better with 12 points, and I\u2019m more than proud of this team.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n (Men\u2019s) England 0 \u2013 0 India (SO: 2 \u2013 3)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n India and England played out a riveting 0-0 draw, with India going on to clinch a close shootout 3-2. There were personal milestones for three England players, Sam Ward marking his 250th<\/sup> combined appearance for England and GB, Ollie Payne reaching 100 combined caps, and David Goodfield achieving his 100th<\/sup> England cap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n England peppered Indian goalkeeper Mohith Honnenahalli Shashikumar in the opening quarter, but his angles were solid and his reactions quick enough to keep them out. India pulled their solitary shot wide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nick Bandurak steered a deflection just wide of goal at the start of the second quarter, and Jarmanpreet Singh created a half chance for India with excellent aerial skills along the baseline. Neither team was conceding an inch in the midfield battle, and the teams went to half-time still locked at 0-0.<\/p>\n\n\n\n India had a real opportunity from a counterattack in the 35th<\/sup> minute, and Payne did very well to smother the final deflection and then clear the ball with his glove as it trickled towards his line. They earned a penalty corner soon after, but they rushed the routine after taking too long in the huddle. There were chances at both ends of the pitch in the final 37 seconds, but the match remained goalless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n India did most of the attacking in the first part of the final quarter, and England camped in India\u2019s final third in the closing minutes, but the teams were inseparable after 60 minutes. The match went to a shootout, where India came out on top.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Player of the Match was awarded to India\u2019s Sanjay who said: \u201cWe have improved a lot from the last game. We had a lot of chances, we\u2019ll try to convert them next time, but we improved from the first game to the second one, it was good.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n (Women\u2019s) Belgium 0 \u2013 3 Netherlands<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Belgium were guilty of not making the most of numerous chances, allowing the champion Dutch side to finish their campaign with a 3-0 victory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Belgians had enjoyed much of the momentum in the opening quarter, but with just over a minute to go, the Netherlands earned their first penalty corner of the match. The initial shot from Yibbi Jansen went wide, and then Stephanie Vanden Borre cleared the re-award off the line to keep the score goalless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Dutch found more of their rhythm in the second period, creating more circle entries, but were unable to capitalise. Neither of the goalkeepers was kept particularly busy as the teams went to half-time still locked on 0-0.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Netherlands looked far from their best at the start of the third quarter, making several basic errors and allowing the Belgians to dominate. But the champions managed to score against the run of play in the 34th<\/sup> minute, with some slack Belgian defence allowing Luna Fokke to find Joosje Burg in the middle of the circle, who fired it in to go 1-0 up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Belgium just lacked the precision to make the most of their chances in the final quarter, and they were punished when Yibbi Jansen scored off another Dutch penalty corner, the drag taking a deflection off the keeper on its way in. The Pro League\u2019s top female scorer flicked in another with just over three minutes to go to wrap up the 3-0 win and finish the tournament with 15 goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lisa Post was named Player of the Match for the Netherlands and said: \u201cIt\u2019s very nice to end all the matches like this and the tournament, so we\u2019re happy\u2026 Yesterday we were a little bit disappointed, but we fought hard today so we\u2019re happy with the win today.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n (Men\u2019s) Belgium 5 \u2013 4 Australia<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Belgium broke a host of records in a thrilling finale, becoming the only team in Pro League history to win a match after being four goals down. They clawed their way back to beat Australia 5-4 and finish the season with the most wins in a men\u2019s Pro League season with 13. Tom Boon also became the only player to have scored in eight consecutive games.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Australia started in fiery fashion and took the lead from an 8th<\/sup>-minute penalty corner. Simon Vandenbroucke saved the initial shot brilliantly, but Hayden Beltz was on hand to volley the rebound into the roof of the net at close range. Australia piled on the pressure to win a flurry of penalty corners and Cooper Burns doubled their lead in the 11th<\/sup> minute, his drag flick catching a big deflection off first-wave runner Hugo Labouchere. Tim Brand added a scrappy field goal and Australia led 3-0 after just 15 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Belgium looked much better in the second quarter, dominating possession and territory, but they were rocked back again by a big Jack Welch drag flick in the 28th<\/sup> minute. Belgium finally pulled one back with a penalty corner on the stroke of half-time, Thomas Crols winning the goalmouth scramble to make it 4-1 at the break.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Belgians lifted themselves in the third quarter and a glorious 60m pass found Tom Boon in the circle for an accurate reverse stick strike in the 39th<\/sup> minute. Burns then struck the post at the other end before Belgium got back within one goal, Alex Hendrickx landing his 42nd<\/sup>-minute drag flick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Boon equalised in the 50th<\/sup> minute, applying pressure in the circle to earn a penalty corner and nailing his drag flick. He then fired Belgium ahead in the 54th<\/sup> minute, completing his hat-trick with another booming drag flick. Australia withdrew their goalkeeper and threw everything forward with three minutes remaining, but they couldn\u2019t find a way back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was a sensational way to draw the curtain on this season\u2019s Pro League.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Belgium\u2019s Tom Boon was named the Player of the Match and said: \u201cIt was crazy, I think this is the greatest comeback of all time for Belgium. It was a very tough game, a difficult start, but we managed to come back. We still believed in it, when we got talking in the changeroom we said, OK, there is a small chance but we have to grab it, we have to give everything we could, and we did it and I think it\u2019s amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Already assured of the title, Belgium\u2019s men produced a heroic effort to come from four goals down and<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14318,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[60],"class_list":["post-14317","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newsbeat","tag-hockey"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t