Pro League 2024 (London)
06.06.2024
Written by; Tao MacLeod
Day 4
China 2 – 3 Germany (Ladies)
Germany 0 – 3 Spain (Men)
Great Britain 1 – 3 USA (Women)
Great Britain 3 – 0 Ireland (Men)
What Happened Today
China 2 – 3 Germany (Ladies)
This first game is being played behind closed doors due to (presumably) a lack of demand for tickets, which led to an eerie quietness around the broadly empty stadium as the teams came out of the tunnel. Only competition team members and match day officials were at Lee Valley (joined by brilliant and articulate members of the written media). It leant to a rather muted atmosphere. However, I’m starting to like this Chinese team. They are well organised and look to get forward quickly. They very nearly scored early on when they hit the post from a short corner, although, it was the Germans who opened the scoring with a second phase shot from Charlotte Stapenhorst. China’s goalkeeper, Li Xinhuan, was then forced into several decent saves, from fairly firm strikes by Germany. China equalised early in the second period (so quickly in fact that I was still walking back with my cup of tea). It was a quick break from a midfield area that was finished off well by Yu Anhui. The Europeans kept coming forward and racked up more and more shots on and off target. They even had a penalty stroke decision overruled on referral.
The third quarter was dominated by an ambitious Chinese team. The Germans should have scored at the back post, as the ball flashed across their opponents goal, but it was without a true connection. China took the lead in the 45th minute from a Gu Bingfeng short corner. In the fourth period Die Danas took their goalie off in order to have an extra outfielder. They got one back with a set piece of their own with a shot from Sonja Zimmermann and then the lead through Sara Strauss. Upon going behind China took off their own goalie to go 11 versus 11 out on the pitch for a time. Germany only brought Julia Sonntag back on after China won a penalty corner. It finished three goals to two for the Germans.
Germany 0 – 3 Spain (Men)
In a tightly contested first half it was Spain that took the initial lead, through a José Basterra field goal in the 11th minute. The second half saw further dominance from the Spanish in terms of possession. They made short sharp movements to move the Germans about, a short corner in the 39th minute forced a save from Jean Danneberg. Finally, after winning a free hit on the left hand edge of their opponents circle, both Basterra and Spain got a second in the match. After Enrigue Gonzalez provided some good link up play down the left wing, and along the baseline Basterra got his hat trick in the 49th minute. The World Champions have looked lacklustre, never having offered much at all. Maybe the players are fatigued after a long domestic campaign, but the Spanish goalie was not troubled in the final period. The game ended with a Spanish victory.
Great Britain 1 – 3 USA (Women)
The gates were opened in the evening for a small ticketed crowd who had come to enjoy the home teams play. The British ladies took the lead through a well taken top ‘D’ strike from the Dundonian Charlotte Watson. The Americans were looking a bit more ambitious than they had been against the Germans. They wanted to get forward a bit more when in possession, but also pressed a bit higher. This did mean that there was more space between the players for their opponents to target. However, this more attacking mindset got the Yanks an equaliser. After winning a free hit outside of the British circle the ball carrier took it the required five metre distance, before spinning the full back. She then advanced on the left hand baseline and sent a reverse hit towards the back post whereupon Megan Valzonis tucked it away.
In the third period neither team had much lateral movement up front. However, the USA started to attack the British goal line after the break. In the 52nd minute the United States attacked down the right wing. The ball carrier hit the baseline and centred the ball across the face of goal. Ashley Sessa got in front of her defender and finished it off to put the Americans ahead for the first time in the match. Ashley Hoffman’s strike found the backboard in the 56th minute extended her side’s lead even further. At this point Amy Tennant was withdrawn from her goal as Britain looked to get back in to the game. They couldn’t find a goal, and the Americans got their first win of the tournament.
Great Britain 3 – 0 Ireland (Men)
In their typical style, the Irish came out of the blocks fast. They had much of the possession in the first period, even hitting the crossbar above the head of Welshman Toby Reynolds-Cotterill from a short corner. However, it was the Englishman Sam Ward, who got the opening goal, in the 12th minute; a British shot from a short corner of their own was saved, but the clearance went to the centre forward, who despatched the ball with a bit of power. They doubled their lead shortly afterwards, gained from a set piece but this time Phil Roper scored from a variation of the previous attempt. He received the ball on the right hand side, before a neat finish into the corner. The third British goal was a strange one, in that the pass basically went in a straight line, missed by everybody except Sam Ward, who secured himself a brace. Britain attacked with a fast and fluid playing style, which allowed them to move the ball at speed. However, Ireland appeared to be able to give as good as they got, they played with an equally assertive mindset. With less than two minutes to go, Ireland thought that they had got one back, but it was overruled on referral.
Star Player
British forwards Sarah Robertson, Charlotte Watson and Tess Howard looked energetic and ambitious today. They carried the ball well, looked to drag defenders out of position and play others into the game. Watson even got a goal herself, against the USA. However, they couldn’t secure the win, going down 3-1 to the side rooted to the bottom of the table. Team USA’s Meredith Sholder got the player of the match award during this particular game. The Chinese goalkeeper today was pretty good. Li Xinhuan got in the way of several firm shots from Germany and without her the defeat might have been higher. Ireland’s Tim Cross and Daragh Walsh were full of beans today. They were forceful and quick when on the ball, even winning a short corner, or two for his side. Rohan Bhuhi could be very good for Britain, in the future. He plays as a holding midfielder, who is very composed for somebody so young and a reliable passer of the ball. However, I’m going to plump for José Basterra after he secured a hat trick against the World Champions of Germany.
Goal of the Day
Charlotte Watson’s opening goal today was pretty good. After receiving the ball near the top of the circle, the Taysider took a touch swizzled and buried it into the goal to make it one nil to Britain. However, the Chinese equaliser to go one all against Germany was lovely and will go down as my goal of the day. A midfield drive through the centre was laid off to the left at a forward angle. An incisive pass towards the penalty spot found Yu Anhui at centre forward. She took a touch and beat the keeper with a pushed shot. A good, fast paced team goal on the counter attack.
Thought of the Day
I like the video referrals in hockey. It’s useful to have and I think that it works better than in football. I also like how the on-pitch and video umpires are mic’d up, so that the television audiences can hear what’s going on and understand the decisions better. However, this isn’t replicated in the stadium, at least not at Lee Valley. I’m sure that the players are informed of how the decisions have been arrived at, but the spectators and media in the stands have not been. It would be nice to hear what is being said by the match officials.
