It was the match-up that everyone wanted to see. Number one in FIH World Ranking vs number two. The undefeated FIH Hockey Pro League champions vs the defending World Cup champions. Calm, calm, composed Dutch vs. the fire and excitement of Las Leones.
Before the match, Netherlands head coach Jamilan Mulders spoke about the need to eliminate the threat from Augustina Albertario and Maria Granato, which his team went on to do, as well as his devastating pace on the Argentine defence, Speed and vision highlighted. Dutch hockey was powerful, compelling and completely unstoppable. This gave Oranje his ninth title, with Eva de Goede, Zaan de Ward, Marlo Keitels, Margot van Geffen and Leidewiss Welten all taking their third World Cup gold medals.
In the first bronze medal match, Australia broke German hearts, turning the match in the final quarter. Germany looked impressive in the first three quarters and seemed to have a bronze medal in the bag but Australia had other ideas and scored twice in the last 15 minutes. HockeyRussia was kept in the match by excellent goalkeeping by Jocelyn Bartram, who repeatedly denied Die Danas.
Australia v Germany (3rd place/bronze medal match)
After their breakneck start against Argentina the previous day, Germany started at a slightly less frenetic pace in the bronze medal match. This translated into a more structured performance from the European team but with few opportunities to put the Australian defense on the attack.
It all changed in the 14th minute when Hanna Granitsky found Lena Mitchell with a beautiful pass that dissected the midfield. Mitchell ghosted through defense and his running shot went past Jocelyn Bartram in Australia’s goal.
In the second quarter, Australia found their footing in the game to a great extent. Stephanie Kershaw, who has had an excellent World Cup, was instrumental in propelling the team forward. To forward him through the balls were asking questions of the German defense.
The first penalty corner of the match went in Germany’s favor after some good work from Mitchell and Nike Lorenz. Goalkeeper Bartram and his defense dealt well with the penalty corner attempt. It was the only real scoring opportunity in the second quarter as both sides struggled to find a way to cross two well-trained defensive units.
Australia’s first real chance came when they broke through the middle of the pitch at the start of the second quarter. Again it was Kershaw who started the move and got Rosie Malone on his pass. The forward only had eyes for the goal as she ran forward but was met by German goalkeeper Nathalie Kubalski, who held off Malone’s run until the defense had recovered.
The Germans fought swiftly as Pia Martens broke through and only defeated Bartram. The Australian goalkeeper read the move brilliantly and made a brilliant save to keep his team in the match.
Australia thought they were back in the game just before the break at the end of the third quarter. An uninterrupted period of play led to penalty corners, but Martens was fulfilling his defensive roles as much as his attackers and picked up the ball mid-air as it headed toward goal with a Renee Taylor shot.
Germany started the final quarter at top pace as they sought to extend their narrow 1-0 lead. Two penalty corners gave them opportunities over D, but Australia’s defense remained strong.
That strong defense paid dividends minutes later when Stephanie Kershaw swiftly made her way through the German defense to create enough room for Kubalski to shoot and just over 10 minutes of play left to bring the score level. .
In a sub-story of the match, a double emerged between Bartram and Mertens as the goalkeeper denied the attacking midfielder on several occasions, including two fairly surprising saves in the fourth quarter.
Australia took the lead with five minutes remaining when Kershaw came on to pounce on a shot from Claire Colville. The whole move was triggered by the brilliant work of Amy Lawton leading the team throughout the match.
Germany quickly removed their goalkeeper to gain the advantage of an on-field player, but to no avail as Australia showed their calm and restraint to deny a German revival and run down the clock to seal the bronze medal. kept.
Player of the Match Jocelyn Bartram (Aus) said: ‘I am feeling very excited. It was a tough game and Germany were a tough opponent but we stuck to our procedures and went ahead. I have been working hard over the years to get my chance but my teammates deserve credit because they always have my back.
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Argentina vs Netherlands (Final/Gold Medal Match)
There were tears over the national anthem with some athletes knowing it was their last match for their country. Belen Susie and Marlo Keitels have already announced that this will be their last outing in national shirts, but before the much-anticipated final, other players were battling with emotion.
Argentina were under pressure very early in the first minute with two penalty corners. Keitels, who was wearing the captain’s armband, stopped the first row and the second watched as Austina Gorzelny placed her shot over the crossbar.
The Netherlands’ first meaningful attack came from the speed and skill of Felice Albers. However, Gorzelny is not just a scoring machine; On this occasion, he showed all his defensive ability to steal the ball from Albers’ stick.
The first quarter ended goalless, with both teams enjoying several attempts, but neither side advanced in terms of shots on goal or possession.
A minute into the second quarter and Albers stepped forward to intercept a high aerial thrown by Valentina Costa. Her movement in the circle forced a foul and later a penalty corner. It was the inauguration the reigning champions had been waiting for. Yibby Janssen hit the shot and Maria Verchur was on hand to pass the ball past Belen Susie to give the team a priceless goal lead.
At this point the difference between the two teams was that Netherlands was playing fast but Argentina was doing everything in a hurry.
Netherlands’ second goal came through Route One approach. Peene Sanders throws a brilliant aerial. Laurian Luerink collected and threaded a pass to Friedrich Matala. Matla throws the high ball into Suchi’s net.
The half-time break could not have come soon enough for Argentina as they looked to risk two penalty corners on the stroke of half-time, injuring Belen Suchi in the process.
Argentina were determined to cut the Dutch lead for the second half, but in pursuit of a goal, the team lost its cool. No such problem existed for the Netherlands. The third goal was an extremely confident piece of teamwork, with some sheer individual brilliance. Eve de Goede and Sanders played the ball off defense with a series of complicated short ‘give and go’ passes, then dropped the ball to Albers who made his way through the Argentine midfield and defense before hitting Susie.
One minute into the fourth quarter and Albertario showed she was not giving up the fight. The forward won a penalty corner and Gorzelene sent the ball high into Josine Koning’s goal.
It was the speed of galvanized Las Leones and so forth. The problem was that the team was not connecting and too many passes were lost or sent towards the Dutch circle as expected.
The Netherlands stormed Argentina and won another penalty corner. Eva de Goede thought she had scored a goal to return to the team, but the whistle was blown and the midfielder was denied.
Player of the Match Felice Albers (NED) said: ‘It’s a great feeling. I am very proud of my team. This was the best version of our team. We were the best team today and that was our best game of the tournament.
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