Friday, December 12 – Dublin: The sun shone down on the National Hockey Pitch at the Sport Ireland Campus in Dublin for Day 4 of the FIH Hockey Pro League as the visiting Nations faced off, with Belgium Men & Women leaving the happiest of the sides.
In the morning, Belgium and Germany Men returned to the campus for their second of two encounters. Belgium repeated their 4-1 win on the opening day with an equally as impressive win by the same scoreline. Alexander Hendrickx opened the scoring from a penalty corner after four minutes before completing his brace in quarter two. Thomas Crols added Belgium’s third just a minute later, with legendary forward Tom Boon completed the scoring. Germany pulled a consolation back through Malte Hellwig, but the game was long beyond them at that stage.
Belgium Women made it a day to celebrate for fans of the Red Panthers and Lions by coming from a goal behind after a Darcy Bourne penalty corner to snatch a win in the final seconds. Captain Charlotte Englebert levelled the scoring for Belgium on her 100th Senior International appearance. With time running out Belgium won a penalty stroke which Stephanie Vanden Borre continue Belgium’s perfect start to Season 7 of the FIH Hockey Pro League.
The Sport Ireland Campus is now braced for what is poised to be an exciting weekend. Having recorded their first ever FIH Hockey Pro League points against England on Thursday, the Ireland Women will hope to continue their momentum as they meet both Belgium and England again on Saturday and Sunday respectively. Fans from across the country will make the trip to see the team play in their final two games of 2025 on home soil.