SPORTS DESK
Islamabad (November 11, 2021):-The Netherlands women fought back from a goal down to claim a battling FIH Hockey Pro League victory against Belgium, with Alyson Annan’s team making it two wins from two as nearly 5000 fans came out to watch the Olympic, World, European and Pro League champions in action for the final time in 2021 at Amstelveen’s Wagener Stadium, just outside Amsterdam.
With their recent victories over Germany seeing them climb up to an all-time high of seventh in the FIH World Rankings, Belgium came into this contest in confident mood, determined to avenge the 2-0 defeat they suffered at the hands of the Oranje four weeks ago.
Raoul Ehren’s Red Panthers were outstanding in the first quarter, forcing the Dutch onto the back foot and winning a string of unconverted penalty corners before breaking the deadlock a minute into the second period.
The goal came from the stick of Stephanie Vanden Borre, who despatched a penalty corner drag-flick moments after Netherlands captain Eva de Goede left the field injured after standing on the ball in her own defensive circle.
Despite the inspirational de Goede playing no further part in the contest, the Netherlands used the half time break to re-group before producing a match-winning third quarter display in which they scored three times without reply in just five minutes.
Joosje Burg’s instinctive volley restored parity before Freeke Moes claimed a goal and an assist, firing home a cool backhand strike and then supplying Lidewij Welten for a close-range tap-in to put the Netherlands firmly in control.
It proved enough for the Netherlands to complete 2021 – a year in which they claimed the Olympic, European and FIH Hockey Pro League titles – on a winning note.
“We hadn’t seen each other for a few weeks, since the last game, so I think it was completely normal that we needed some time to find each other again”, commented Netherlands’ Laura Nunnink – who was named Player of the Match – regarding her team’s first half performance. “In the second half it was way better. We were finding each other, passing the ball to each other and played the sort of hockey that we are famous for.”
Belgium goal-scorer Stephanie Vanden Borre said: “I think we had a good start, but the third quarter was less [good]. We dropped our level. We were always second in the one-on-one duels, and needed to work it up and keep it high.”
The FIH Hockey Pro League Season 3 will be back in action on Friday 26 and Sunday 28 November with the men of the Netherlands and Belgium going head-to-head at HC Rotterdam. With the Netherlands being the champions of Europe and Belgium holding the Olympic, World and FIH Hockey Pro League titles, it promises to be a thrilling occasion.
Wednesday 10 November 2021 – Amstelveen (NED)
Women
Netherlands 3, Belgium 1 [Match 2 of 2]
Player of the Match: Laura Nunnink (NED)
Umpires: Laurine Delforge (BEL), Coen van Bunge (NED) and Celine Martin-Schmets (BEL - video)
