Harpal Singh Bedi / Bhubaneswar
Amid nerve wrecking tension and high drama the Netherlands knocked out Defending champion Australia 4-3 in penalty shootout via sudden death after the two teams were levelled 2-2 at the end of the regulation period to storm into the final of the 14th Hockey World Cup ,after two decades, at Kalinga Stadium here on Saturday
In the process the Netherlands took a sweet revenge of the 1-6 defeat they had suffered at the hands of Australia in the final of 2014 edition of world Cup
Three time champion the Netherlands will take on Belgium in the all European final after two decades. In 1998 the Netherlands had beaten Spain in all European contest before that in 1975 it was Asian affair with India beating Pakistan at Kuala Lumpur .
This will also be for the first time since 2002 that Australia will not figure n the final of the Cup
In an edge of the seat affair, Australia proved nothing is over till it is over. Trailing 1-2 till the last minute, the out going champions came alive from the death with Eddie Ockenden scoring a stunning equaliser in the last 24 seconds of the game. To take the match into penalty shoot out.
In the regular period Gleen Schuurman (9th) Seve Van Ass (20th) scored a goal each while for Australia Tim Howard (45th) EddieOckenden (60th) were the goal getters.
.@oranjehockey cruise to the Final of the OHMWC Bhubaneswar 2018 after they defeated @Kookaburras in the Semi Final. Here are the best shots.
ALBUM: https://t.co/x3372nFnJq#IndiaKaGame #DilHockey #HWC2018 #AUSvNED pic.twitter.com/eQbqFubPH5
— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) December 15, 2018
However in the shootout the teams were levelled three when sudden death was applied and here luck deserted the Aussies as Daniel Beale failed to convert after Jeroen Hertzberger had put the Dutch ahead.
In the shootout Daniel Beale, Tom Craig and Jake Whetton converted while Aran Zalweski and Tim Brand failed. For the Winners Jeoran Hertzberger, Deeve Van ass and Thjis Van Dam scored while Mirco Pruijse , Robbert Kemperman failed
This is the match Australia had a edge ,they attacked relentlessly and after conceding two goals in a space of 11 minutes virtually laid seize around the Dutch goal. Time and again the Aussies attacked created opening and set up their strikers but all their efforts. It was simply not their day.
Dutch Goal keeper Pirmin Blaak was their hero.He brought off some stunning saves and in the sudden death kept his nerve to see his team through to final, denying the Aussies a chance to create history of becoming the firs team to win a hat trick of titles.
“ I am proud of my boys,They kept their nerves, they remained focus’ said Dutch Coach Max Caldas. “we played well”
Australian coach Colin Batch offered no excuses” We had our chances, many chances but then we could not convert them. We dominated the Game but they won. This is what sport is all about.