European Cup Hockey for women: The Netherlands have won a direct entry to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games Hockey Competition for women after crowning itself as the European Cup champions in Antwerp on Saturday. The Netherlands defeated Germany 2-0, including a last-minute goal by Lidewij Welten. Earlier, Spain and England played 1-1 draw in the bronze medal game. Spain, however, won the penalty shoot-out 3-2 to take the bronze.
In the gold medal match, it was a fierce fight for supremacy. Though the match statistics corroborate the Netherlands supremacy in all recorded parameters, including possession (52.9 percent), shits at goals seven against three, circle entries 19 against seven and penalty corners five against one it does not reflect the gallant fight the German girls put up against their traditional rivals. Of late German hockey has been little low compared to previous years as Belgium, Spain (in men's section) and the Netherlands, Spain (in women's section) have been witnessing an upswing.
The results of European Cup championships, both for men and women, are more or less on expected lines. In the gold medal match, the Netherlands started well-taking lead in the 12th minute through Kelly Jonker's brilliant field goal. It was only in the dying moment of the game that the lead was consolidated by Lidewij Welten. Interestingly both the goals in the gold medal match came through field scoring.
If one looks at the statistics of the entire European Championship, a fairly substantial percenter of goals came from penalty corners. In the bronze medal match, Hannah Martin had drawn the first blood for Germany in the 10th minute. Spain struggled hard and managed to restore parity only in the 36th minute through Maria Tost. Since Spain and England could not resolve the 1-1 deadlock at the end of the regulation period, penalty shoot out was enforced that saw Spain scoring three out of its first four attempts against two by England.
