There have been opening-day victories for Poland, France, and Uruguay because the inaugural FIH Hockey Girls’s Nations Cup 2 bought underway in Walcz, Poland on Monday, whereas Italy and Wales kicked issues off with a draw.
This brand-new tier of the FIH Nations Cup competitors supplies a structured pathway for growing and rising groups to ultimately climb in the direction of the FIH Hockey Professional League.
Only one promotion spot is offered from this match to the FIH Hockey Girls’s Nations Cup 2026.
Italy 3 – 3 Wales
Italy and Wales picked up a degree apiece of their 3-3 attract a recreation of two very totally different halves.
Wales confirmed higher creativity of their attacking third in a dominant first half. They confirmed good attacking intent to win a penalty nook within the second minute, however discovered themselves trailing within the sixth minute when Lola Brea collected a rebound off the pads and chipped neatly over the susceptible goalkeeper. Wales saved making use of strain, although, and equalised within the twenty third minute, when Amy Cradden flicked in from a penalty nook variation to the left of the citadel. Italy missed two penalty nook alternatives of their very own earlier than Beth Friends gave Wales a 2-1 lead with a scrappy aim within the Twenty eighth minute.
The Welsh conceded a gentle penalty nook within the thirty sixth minute for Italy to revive parity, as Guadalupe Moras pounced on the rebound off the primary shot. However 4 minutes later, the Welsh edged their noses in entrance once more when Millie Holme discovered the backboard from a recycled penalty nook. The Italians discovered a a lot greater gear within the closing 20 minutes and created loads of alternatives. Brea levelled the scores within the fiftieth minute by reacting quickest to a rebound from a penalty nook, and Italy then had a number of possibilities to steal the win, however the closing hooter sounded with the scores stage.
Lola Brea was named as participant of the match for Italy and stated: “We’re very proud of the sport that we did, with how we constructed the sport. It wasn’t the end result that we hoped for, however we’re going to hold combating to the final recreation.”
France 3 – 0 Czechia
France dominated massive stretches of their match opener and will simply have secured a extra emphatic victory than their eventual 3-0 win over Czechia. They appeared threatening all through the primary half, however merely couldn’t discover the again of the web from a flurry of circle penetrations and penalty corners.
The French picked up precisely the place they left off at half time, and the inevitable aim lastly got here within the thirty fourth minute. Ines Lardeur bought the primary strike away from the highest of the circle after a shortly taken free hit, and the rebound fell to Paola Le Nindre, who fed Yohanna Lhopital for a tap-in on the proper put up. Mathilde Duffrene added a drag flick six minutes later, and Le Nindre then scored a aim of her personal with a penalty nook rebound within the forty fifth. Czechia had a few botched PC possibilities within the closing quarter, and France completed strongly with out including to the rating.
The participant of the match went to France’s Paola Le Nindre who stated: “Robust recreation for the primary half, and after that we awoke and scored three targets within the third quarter. We’re pleased concerning the response of the group.”
South Africa 0 – 2 Uruguay
Uruguay weathered an early storm earlier than sealing a snug 2-0 win over South Africa.
The South Africans put themselves beneath strain by conceding fixed turnovers within the opening 5 minutes, however as soon as they tightened up, they began to look harmful on assault for the remainder of the quarter. They slipped again into dangerous habits in the beginning of the second interval, nonetheless, and Uruguay punished them within the nineteenth minute, when Manuela Vilar carried the ball into the circle and leathered it into the web. The Uruguayans went on to dominate play till half time, and Vilar doubled their lead along with her Twenty eighth-minute drag flick.
The South Individuals ran a good ship in a goalless second half, controlling possession and patiently constructing phases. Against this, South Africa made too many unforced errors and couldn’t discover the shape that had made them so harmful within the opening quarter.
Uruguay’s Manuela Vilar was named the participant of the match and stated: “It was a tricky recreation. Additionally, they had been greater within the rankings so it’s actually essential for us to win these sorts of video games, and I feel we actually practice arduous to be right here, so we’re actually pleased.”
Malaysia 0 – 2 Poland
Hosts Poland survived a number of scares and snatched two late targets as they fought to a 2-0 win over Malaysia.
The house facet appeared energetic as they stepped out to boss the primary quarter, however the vital contact was lacking across the circle. Malaysia then squandered an early alternative in the beginning of the second quarter earlier than the match tightened up considerably. Penalty corners had been wasted at each ends because the clock ran down on a goalless first half.
The Malaysians began the third quarter with a sustained interval of assault, however strong defence from Poland denied them a clear shot. The Poles progressively gained the ascendancy and virtually discovered the again of the web after intercepting a dismal Malaysian move to their sweeper. They then missed from a penalty nook, and Malaysia as soon as once more ended the interval on the entrance foot with two penalty corners of their very own.
Poland survived a torrid begin to the ultimate quarter earlier than taking the lead from a penalty nook variation within the fifty fifth minute. The ball was slipped far to the proper of the citadel after which directed at Sandra Tatarczuk for a wonderful deflection in entrance of aim. Tatarczuk then put the end result past doubt with a low drag flick within the closing minute.
The participant of the match was awarded to Sandra Tatarczuk of Poland, who stated: “I’m actually very pleased that we received the sport and we scored two targets. At first, it was a bit bit chaotic, however we scored within the final quarter, so I’m actually pleased.”
To see the present standings within the FIH Hockey Nations Cup 2, click on right here.
FIH Hockey Nations Cup 2 – 16 June 2025
Battle, Poland (POL)
End result: Match 1
Italy 3 – 3 Wales
Participant of the match: Lola Brea (ITA)
Verps: Following Mcnenan (NP), Aname (ESP)
End result: Match 2
France 3 – 0 Czechia
Participant of the Match: Paola Le Nindre (from)
Umpires: Jamie Telfer (SCO), Kelly-Anne Foskin (NZL)
End result: Match 3
South Africa 0 – 2 Uruguay
Participant of the match: Manuela Vilar (URG)
UMPires: Ilaria Amorisini (now), Sarah Craig (IRL)
End result: Match 4
Malaysia 0 – 2 Poland
Participant of the match: Sandra Tatarczuk (POL)
Umpires: Rob Argent (IRL), Teresa Lipsky (GER)
