SANTIAGO DEL ESTERO, Argentina: Pakistan’s long-awaited debut in the FIH Pro League began with great promise but ended in a 5–2 defeat to the defending champions, the Netherlands, on a historic evening in Argentina.
The match, held at the Estadio Bisecco, marked Pakistan’s first-ever appearance in world hockey’s elite league, and while they showed moments of flair and resilience, they were ultimately outclassed by the Dutch in the second half.
Dream Start for Pakistan
Pakistan made an explosive start to the match, stunning the reigning world champions with a brilliant solo effort from youngster Hannan Shahid.
Picking up the ball on the left, Shahid sliced past two Dutch defenders and fired a powerful shot past goalkeeper Mauritz Visser, sending Pakistan fans into raptures.
His audacious strike was a stunning way to mark Pakistan’s arrival in the prestigious competition.
Netherlands Hits Back
The Netherlands, however, quickly regained composure and responded with the poise expected from a title-winning unit.
A timely tackle from captain Thierry Brinkman ignited a swift Dutch counter-attack, leading to Koen Bijen equalizing before the first-quarter buzzer.
Minutes later, the Dutch showed their set-piece prowess, with Timo Boers converting a penalty corner to give the Netherlands a 2–1 lead, underscoring their strength in this department.
Pakistan Fights Back
Undeterred by the setback, Pakistan displayed resilience early in the second quarter.
Drag-flicker Sufyan Khan made his mark by converting a penalty corner to bring the score back to 2–2, lifting the spirits of the team and offering a glimmer of hope heading into the halftime break.
The team’s attacking intent and speed on the wings gave them confidence, but the Dutch defense proved a tough nut to crack.
Turning Point in the Third Quarter
The third quarter proved decisive as the Netherlands tightened their structure and exploited Pakistan’s defensive lapses.
Tijmen Reyenga restored the Dutch lead with a thunderous penalty-corner strike, and moments later, Boers added his second goal of the match from yet another set play, making it 4–2.
To compound Pakistan’s difficulties, Duco Telgenkamp pounced on a loose ball near the baseline, scoring a fifth goal to complete the Netherlands’ dominant spell and give them a commanding 5–2 advantage.
Reyenga Shines as Player of the Match
Reyenga’s all-round display, influential in defense and clinical on penalty corners, earned him the Player of the Match award.
The Dutch closed out the final quarter by controlling possession and preventing Pakistan from launching a late surge.
Pakistan’s Encouraging Signs
Despite the defeat, Pakistan’s bravery, pace on the wings, and occasional attacking brilliance offered promising signs for their future in the Pro League.
The team will now face a challenging schedule, with matches against hosts Argentina on December 12, a rematch with the Netherlands on December 13, and another clash with Argentina on December 15.
