Bhubaneswar: The Netherlands ended their campaign on a winning note at the Men’s Hockey World Leage Finals (HWLF) defeating England by a solitary goal in the seventh-eighth place play-off match of the here Friday at the Kalinga Stadium, Friday. The all-important goal of the game was scored by Mirco Pruijser in the 42nd minute of the game.
Incessant unseasonal rains however, prevented both sides from playing quality hockey. With water just under the astro-turf holding up the ball, players of both the sides found it difficult to play the long passing game that they usually do.
The first quarter fetched no goals as both the teams tried get a footing on the slippery surface. Whenever either side got the ball, they tended to play possession hockey. It was a slow and insipid affair, with goal-scoring opportunities few and far in between.
In the second quarter, England, came close to scoring in the 25th minute. However, Christopher Griffith’s hit was blocked by a diving rival goalie Sam ven der Van. Griffiths was in the thick of action again two minutes later but it was again Van der Ven who came to the Netherland’s rescue. The first half thus ended goalless.
The first penalty corner of the match went to England in the 32nd minute but they failed to make most if it as Mark Gleghorne’s weak shot was easily saved by the Dutch goalkeeper.
However, the Oranjes broke the deadlock in the 42nd minute with a clever tap-in from Pruijser. Taking the ball from the right flank Valentin Varga penetrated in dribbling past a few English defenders to pass it to Pruijser who was at the right place and right time to slot it home past George Pinner to put his team 1-0 up. It was not indeed a good night for Pinner who was playing his 100th international game for England.
The Englishmen tried their best to restore parity, but the Dutch defence held firm. Once Barry Middleton did break through but shot wide.
The English lions had another chance to equalise in the 54th minute but they again failed. Gleghorne, there penalty corner specialist for quite some time now again failed to break van der Ven who proved to be rock solid under the bar.
Agencies
