Three-time World Cup champions the Netherlands moved a step closer to the knockout round by demolishing New Zealand 4-0 in a pool C match of the FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup at Birsa Munda Stadium in Rourkela on Monday. Earlier, Malaysia came from behind twice to defeat debutant and South American challengers, Chile, 3-2, in another pool C match.
For the Netherlands, it was its second successive win in as many matches. New Zealand after recording an emphatic 3-1 win over Chile in the first game went bold and adventurous in the first quarter after conceding the first goal in the third minute. It withdrew its goalkeeper Dominic Dixon and replaced him with an extra field player. Even after conceding the second goal and executing a copybook save of a penalty corner, it continued with the rest of the first quarter without a goalkeeper.
Better sense prevailed and the Black Sticks brought back Dominic in play at the start of the second quarter. It did not make any change in the strategy of the Netherlands as it went aggressively to score as many goals as possible in the remaining three quarters.
The return of the goalkeeper did strengthen the defence line of Black Sticks as they tried to build pressure to reduce the margin and look for a possible win for a place in the knockout round. But the Netherlands is not the team that would allow its opponents to dictate their game plan.After conceding a goal in the second quarter through Koen Bijen, which extended the Dutch lead to 3-0, New Zealand did rattle the Dutch defence with some good moves. The Kiwis did not make much use of Connor Greentree, who was inducted into final 18 from the reserves in place of Jack Smith. In the second half, New Zealand looked more organised, both in attack and defence. But the Dutch had the last laugh as they added their fourth goal through Tjep Hoedenmakers. Interestingly, all the goals for the Netherlands were field efforts. So far in the first two rounds of pool games, the percentage of penalty corner conversions has dropped significantly. Even penalty strokes have witnessed a 50 percent success rate so far. The Netherlands skipper Thiery Brinman, who scored the first two goals for his team in the ninth and 13th minutes, was named man of the match.
Earlier, Malaysia overcame a 0-1 deficit against Chile playing its first World Cup. The4 South Americans had taken the lead in the 20th minute through a brilliant penalty corner conversion by Juan Amoros. Stung by the reverse, the Malaysians did not take long to restore parity through Razia Rahim, who made no mistake from a penalty stroke award. Chile again took the lead, this time through a brilliant field goal by hard working Martin Rodriguez just on the stroke of half time. Two goals in successive minutes – 41st and 42nd, saw the Malaysians not only wiping up the deficit but also mnetting the decisive goal. Ashran Hamsani and Norsyafiq Sumantri were the scorers. This was Malaysia’s first win in two games. It will now keep them in the run for a berth in the knockout round through crossovers as the top place in the pool looks all set for the Netherlands.
Prabhjot Singh