Zeenews Bureau
Major Dhyanchand Stadium, New Delhi: New Delhi: The Netherlands scripted a
remarkable come-from-behind victory to win the hockey World
Cup bronze medal by defeating England 4-3 in a thrilling match
here today.
The Dutch, who were trailing 1-3 at the breather made a
remarkable comeback by pumping in three goals in the second
session to win their second bronze medal in the World Cup
history.
The three-time champions had already won two silver
earlier and with today's bronze was their seventh World Cup
medal. This is also their first podium finish after their
third place in 2002 when they beat South Korea in the bronze
medal match.
Dutch captain Teun de Nooijer, who was outstanding in the
field today, scored in his last World Cup match and equalled
Pakistani Akhtar Rasool's record of most number of World Cup
medals -- four -- having won one gold, one silver and one
bronze earlier.
Rasool has won three gold and one silver.
Teun de Nooijer (22nd), Taeke Taekema (48th), Klaas
Vermeulen (56th) and Rogier Hofman (67th) scored for the
Dutch. With today's goal -- his eighth -- star drag-flicker
Taekema became the tournament top scorer.
He also became the joint second top scorer in the history
of the World Cup with 21 goals, the same number as that of
countrymate and current team manager Ties Kruize. For England, who were playing in a World Cup medal match
for the second time -- after their silver finish in 1986 at
home-- Ashley Jackson struck twice (30th, 34th) while Alastair
Brogdon scored the other goal in the 23rd minute.
European champions England were clearly the dominant
side in the first half and they had exposed the Netherlands
defensive frailties by making repeated raids into the striking
circle and forcing six penalty corners in the first session
from which they converted two while the Netherlands had none.
But it was the Dutch who took the lead in the 22nd minute
through a superb goal from captain Teun de Nooijer whose
deflection off a pass from Jeroen Hertzberger went past
English custodian James Fair into the goal.
England just took a minute to equalise through Alastair
Brogdon and then young penalty corner specialist Ashley
Jackson pumped in two goals in quick succession to give his
side a 3-1 by the breather.
Brogdon's reverse stick shot from the top of Dutch
striking circle went into the goal after deflection from an
opposition defender.
Jackson then converted England's fifth and sixth penalty
corners in the 30th and 34th minutes, one hitting the top left
corner of the net and the other a low shot sounding the board.
After the breather, the Dutch came back strongly and
troubled the English defence repeatedly with captain de
Nooijer and Teun Rohof outstanding with some fine moves
mostly from the left flank.
The English defence wilted under pressure and drag
flicker Taeke Taekema sounded the board from his side's first
penalty corner in the 48th minute.
Eight minutes later the Dutch restored parity with Klaas
Vermeulen's pass to a team-mate inside the striking circle
deflected off a defender Alastair Wilson's stick for a goal.
Rogier Hofman scored the winner three minutes from the
final hooter to give the Dutch a 4-3 win.
(With Agency Inputs)
First Published: Saturday, March 13, 2010, 19:43