OK - well done Holland…
OK - well done Holland…
New Delhi:
Constantijn Jonker slammed a hat-trick to help the
Netherlands beat New Zealand 7-2 in a lop-sided summit clash
and lift the inaugural Hero Hockey World League Final title
here on Saturday.
A cagey first 10 minutes saw both
teams testing each other, but providing few real scoring
opportunities at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium. It
was the Netherlands who broke the deadlock when Jonker
(17th) hit the ball from a seemingly impossible angle past
an outstretched Devon Manchester in the Black Sticks
goal.
The Netherlands put pressure on New Zealand defence
in the last 15 minutes of the first half by winning two
penalty corners. They doubled their lead in the 23rd minute
through Billy Bakker's field goal as New Zealand struggled
to cope with the ferocity of the Dutch attack.
The
Netherlands made the scoreline 3-0 just at the stroke of
half time when Jonkers (35th) deflected a hit from the
midfield into New Zealand goal. The second half got off to a
scintillating start as the Netherlands extended their lead
through Bob de Voogd (36th).
But Steve Edwards (37th)
pulled one back for New Zealand with a field strike to make
the scoreline 4-1. The game continued to be open with both
teams using long passes to penetrate opposition defence, but
again it was the Netherlands who found the back of the net
through Rogier Hofman's (45th) field goal to take the match
beyond New Zealand's reach.
Edwards (52nd) scored his second goal for the Black Sticks with another field effort before Bakker (59th) restored the Netherlands' lead with yet another field goal. Minutes later, Jonker (61st) got his hat-trick after running onto a ball fired into the circle and tapping it home to give the Netherlands their maiden HWL Final crown.
Earlier in the day, England won the bronze medal after defeating Australia 2-1 – poetic justice :-)
ends