The Netherlands defeated Australia 4–2 at the Women’s Field Hockey World Cup
The Netherlands women’s field hockey team defeated Australia 4–2 in their second group-stage match of the FIH World Championship. The game took place in Amstelveen, a suburb of Amsterdam. The Dutch are the reigning world champions and top the world rankings, according to ABC News Australia.
The Australians started the match strongly and earned eight penalty corners in the first quarter—including seven in a row—but were unable to open the scoring. Instead, the Dutch team converted their first penalty corner: Yibbi Jansen scored in the 13th minute.
Joosje Burg scored the Netherlands’ second goal. Australia challenged the goal due to a possible touch of the ball on the back of a Dutch player’s stick during the attack. Replays showed such contact, but the incident occurred outside the 23-meter attacking zone, so it could not be reviewed under the challenge procedure. The goal stood.
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The Australians cut the deficit in the 23rd minute thanks to a goal by Steph Kershaw. Later, Kershaw barely touched the ball after a pass from Abi Williams, and Australia tied the score at 2–2.
In the final quarter, the Netherlands increased the pressure on their opponents’ defense, earned five penalty corners, and scored twice in four minutes. Burg and Marjin Veen scored the goals. Australia still has a chance to advance to the next round: in their opening match, they defeated Japan 2–0, and on Wednesday they will face Chile, which lost to Japan 0–3. A win for Australia will guarantee their advancement, provided Japan does not defeat the Netherlands; in that scenario, goal difference will be the deciding factor.
