AHF: DAY 1 – FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup City Of Santiago 2025

02 Dec, 2025

The opening day of the FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup City of Santiago 2025 delivered a high-scoring start and several standout performances. Defending champions the Netherlands set the tone for the tournament with a commanding 10-0 win over hosts Chile, driven by an exceptional display from their captain, Noor van den Nieuwenhof, who scored four goals.

India also produced an impressive attacking performance in their 13-0 victory over Namibia, while Germany began their campaign with a solid 7-1 win against Ireland. Uruguay featured in the day’s tightest match, edging Korea 3-2 with a decisive penalty in the final quarter. Japan controlled their encounter and defeated Malaysia 4-1, and the United States closed the day with a convincing 5-2 win over New Zealand, led by their captain and Player of the Match, Alaina McVeigh.

We take a look at all six matches played on the opening day in Santiago.

Germany vs Ireland (Full-Time Score: 7-1)

Germany took control from the outset on the synthetic turf of the Estadio Nacional, setting a strong tempo in the first quarter and capitalising on their early circle entries. The goals came quickly: Schönhoff opened the scoring in the 3rd minute and Frerichs extended the lead in the 6th after a sequence of penalty corners. The second quarter followed the same pattern, with a high offensive structure and efficient ball circulation, adding goals from Haid and Krings to make it 4-0 at half-time.

After the restart, Germany managed the match with territorial control, stretching the margin through another goal from Frerichs and later from Reisenegger and Becker in the final stages. Ireland pulled one back five minutes from time through a penalty corner executed by Rebekah Lennon, but were unable to alter the overall balance of the match, with Germany maintaining a high press and defending their 23m with discipline.

Germany’s captain, Julia Schedl, said, “I’m very proud of the team; we did a great job, we scored the goals we wanted and a 7-1 result is a very good score. I think we should just keep going like that.”

India vs Namibia (Full-Time Score: 13-0)

India imposed their game immediately on the blue turf of the Estadio Nacional, establishing a high tempo and a deep attacking structure that quickly led to circle penetrations. The opener came in the 6th minute through Siwach Kanika, followed by a sustained surge that left Namibia struggling to reorganise defensively. India controlled possession, maintained a high press and finished the first half with quick triangulations that widened the gap before the break.

The second half followed the same pattern: territorial dominance, continuous circulation and efficiency in the attacking zone. India kept finding space through constant rotations in the final third, with attacks down both flanks and an offensive volume that left Namibia without answers. Goalkeeper Nidhi, rarely called into action, supported the defensive structure as India continued adding goals until the final 13-0 scoreline.

Player of the Match Siwach Kanika said, “It was a great start, it felt like a World Cup first match – a good beginning, but we expect much more from ourselves. The key is teamwork and staying together; that’s how we are scoring.”

Korea vs Uruguay (Full-Time Score: 2-3)

Korea and Uruguay played a tightly contested match on the synthetic turf of the Estadio Nacional, with both sides seeking territorial control from the opening minutes. After a closed first half, the scoring began in the third quarter: Haidukowski put Uruguay ahead in the 30th minute, with Korea levelling three minutes later through a penalty corner converted by Lee Sugyeong. The Asian team’s penalty corner count increased towards the end of the quarter, creating repeated sequences inside the circle.

In the final quarter, Uruguay regained the lead in the 48th minute with a penalty stroke converted by Chiara Curcio, forcing Korea to push forward and apply late pressure. Korea earned a series of consecutive penalty corners in the final minute, a situation Uruguay defended with a compact block before Joo Soyeon scored Korea’s second from a set play. Managing those final seconds secured the 3-2 win.

Player of the Match María Rodríguez said, “It was a tough game. Korea were a difficult rival, but we did a really good job and we are very happy with the result. I knew I was ready for the penalty; I was nervous, like anyone, but prepared to take it. We won because we have been preparing and because we really wanted it – we said it, we went for it, and we got it. It was because of our attitude.”

Japan vs Malaysia (Full-Time Score: 4-1)

Japan imposed their game from the start on the synthetic turf of the Estadio Nacional, with an efficient first quarter that shaped the match. Takahashi’s side combined quick circulation and high pressing to produce seven early circle entries, reflected in a decisive start: Yoshida opened the scoring in the 4th minute, followed by a penalty stroke converted by Saito Hanami and a penalty corner scored by Tabuchi to set a 3-0 lead. Malaysia responded in the second quarter with greater verticality and a penalty corner finished by Hartomo in the 20th minute, reducing the margin at half-time.

The second half showed Japan’s territorial control as they managed the tempo and absorbed Malaysia’s attempts to get back into the match. The Japanese side increased their circle entries, generated new penalty corners and sealed the 4-1 win with a field goal from Usui in the 55th minute. Malaysia maintained defensive order at moments but were unable to regain possession or disrupt Japan’s structure.

Japan’s captain, Minami Ohtsuka, said, “We are very happy for winning this first match, it was our objective. The key was staying united from the start to make it happen.”

United States vs New Zealand (Full-Time Score: 5-2)

3RCM9iKUEL - AHF: DAY 1 – FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup City of Santiago 2025 - 02 Dec, 2025

The United States and New Zealand opened their match with a balanced early phase and few circle actions on the synthetic surface of the Estadio Nacional. The breakthrough came in the second quarter: McVeigh struck in the 16th minute and Hollamon extended the lead in the 23rd, both following sequences of pressure and high circulation that produced consecutive penalty corners. New Zealand responded with greater attacking volume in the third quarter, finding space down the right flank and scoring through Greer Findlay.

In the final quarter, the United States regained territorial control and extended their advantage through goals by Schoenbeck in the 45th minute and D’Ariano in the 47th, capitalising on quick recoveries and direct attacking transitions. New Zealand maintained intensity and scored again through Findlay, but the U.S. side held their defensive structure and managed possession in the final stages to secure the 5-2 result.

U.S. captain Josie Hollamon said, “It was a good start; scoring five goals in an international match is important and I’m proud of the team. We still have work to do, there were many turnovers, but we will improve. We kept aggressive attacking and good energy, and we are excited for the next match.”

Netherlands vs Chile (Full-Time Score: 10-0)

The Netherlands established immediate control on the turf of the Estadio Nacional, generating constant attacking flow from the push-back and settling the match early with a sequence of five goals in Q1. Verstraeten opened and extended the scoring within minutes, while Moes and Beljaars added further variations inside the circle. Van den Nieuwenhof closed the quarter with a drag flick from a penalty corner, making it 5-0. Chile held a low block in their 23m and received a green card for Pérez at 08:18.

In the continuation, the Dutch side maintained a high volume of penalty corners and deep attacking circulation. Van den Nieuwenhof converted a penalty stroke before half-time, and the Netherlands widened the gap after the restart with goals from Moes and Van den Heuvel. In the final stages, the European side controlled possession, executed variations in set plays and closed the match with a second penalty-stroke conversion, sealing the 10-0 scoreline. Chile registered three circle entries and one penalty corner in Q3, without generating direct threat.

Captain and Player of the Match, Noor van den Nieuwenhof, said, “I think it was a pretty good start of the tournament, very proud of the team and how we succeeded, still a lot of things to work on but overall very happy. The key was playing together, not going for solo actions, always looking for combinations – that’s what we will hold on to.”