Bhubaneswar: Germany secured their first victory of the FIH Hockey Pro League 2024-25 season with a commanding 4-0 win over India at the Kalinga Stadium on Friday. A stunning brace from Sophia Schwabe (18’, 46’), along with goals from Amelie Wortmann (3’) and Johanna Hachenberg (60’), propelled Germany to seventh place in the standings.
Germany, coached by former India head coach Janneke Schopman, made an early impact, taking the lead in just the third minute. Aina Kresken delivered a precise low cross from the right, allowing Wortmann to find the back of the net unchallenged. The early goal set the tone for Germany’s relentless attacking play, keeping the Indian defense under constant pressure.
Despite Germany’s dominance, Indian goalkeeper Savita Punia showcased brilliant form, pulling off crucial saves to keep her team in the contest. India created a golden opportunity in the ninth minute when Deepika’s well-placed tomahawk pass just eluded Mumtaz Khan. Another chance arrived in the 15th minute when India found themselves in a two-on-one situation against the German goalkeeper but failed to capitalize.
Germany extended their lead in the 18th minute with a moment of brilliance from Schwabe, who dribbled past three Indian defenders before unleashing a powerful strike into the bottom-right corner. The heavy rain that followed slowed down the pitch, making it even harder for India to stage a comeback. Navneet Kaur nearly pulled one back for the hosts in the 27th minute, but Sharmila Devi’s final attempt was well blocked.
India came out strong in the third quarter, earning a penalty corner within the first minute. Deepika’s drag flick, however, went just wide. Coach Harendra Singh’s halftime pep talk appeared to energize the team, as India launched a series of attacking moves. However, their struggles with finishing continued, allowing Germany to maintain their two-goal lead.
Schwabe put the game beyond India’s reach in the 46th minute, executing a thunderous tomahawk shot after setting herself up inside the goalmouth to make it 3-0. India had a brief moment of celebration in the 57th minute when Mumtaz Khan scored, but the goal was disallowed for dangerous play. Hachenberg sealed the victory for Germany with a late strike in the final minute, wrapping up a dominant performance with a 4-0 scoreline.
The match highlighted Germany’s clinical finishing and structured play, while India will need to work on their attacking efficiency as they look to bounce back in their upcoming fixtures.
All FIH Pro League 2024-25 matches will be streamed live on JioCinema and broadcast on Star Sports Select 2.
