FIH Pro League: Netherlands women trounce USA 7-1 to move to top
FIH Pro League: Netherlands women trounce USA 7-1 to move to top
FIH Pro League: De Waard takes Netherlands women to the top
Trailing by a goal, the Netherlands came back strongly to rout the United States 7-1 in Rotterdam on Sunday. With this win, the Netherlands has climbed to the top spot in FIH Pro League for women.
The reigning world champions produced a devastating form of attacking hockey against their American opponents, cancelling out Taylor West’s surprise opener with strikes from Player of the Match Xan de Waard (2), Kyra Fortuin (2), Yibbi Jansen, Marloes Keetels and Caia van Maasakker.
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The result moves the Dutch back into first position in the FIH Pro League table, pushing Argentina down into second just one day after Las Leonas had themselves taken top spot by beating New Zealand on Saturday evening in Rosario. The Netherlands have claimed 85.71 percent of the points available to them compared to Argentina’s 83.33 percent. The defeated Americans remain bottom of the standings with 12.5 percent. To see the current women’s F
Following their 5-0 away win in the reverse fixture at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, it came as little surprise that reigning world champions the Netherlands (FIH World Ranking: 1) were heavy favourites to record a comfortable win over USA (WR:12) and claim a sixth win in seven FIH Pro League matches.
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FIH Pro League: Netherlands women trounce USA 7-1 to move to top[/caption]
However, while the Dutch were certainly on top in the early stages, the young American team - coached by one of the Oranje’s all-time greats in Janneke Schopman - stunned both their illustrious opponents and the sell-out crowd at H.C. Rotterdam when Taylor West put the visitors ahead with a close range finish in the sixth minute.The USA held onto their lead for seven minutes before Xan de Waard burst into the circle and found the bottom left corner of Kelsey Bing’s goal, restoring parity at the end of the first quarter.
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The world champions took the score to 3-1 in the second quarter, with Kyra Fortuin producing a cool turn and shot after being picked out by Yibbi Jansen before De Waard netted her second with what was unquestionably the goal of the game, unleashing an unstoppable backhand strike from the top of the circle that ricocheted off the left post before nestling in the back of the net.
The home fans were treated to some scintillating hockey from the world's top ranked team in third quarter, with Fortuin registering her second after a brilliant assist from Laurien Leurink before Yibbi Jansen and Marloes Keetels added their contributions to make it 6-1 going into the final quarter. The scoring was completed by the ever-reliable Caia van Maasakker, who scored the 50th penalty corner goal, and 53rd in total, of her stellar international career.
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Reflecting on the victory, Player of the Match Xan de Waard said: “It was an amazing atmosphere. Of course we got the 0-1 against, but I think it was their [USA’s] first circle entry so we were not that afraid of losing here. I guess we had faith that everything would be alright. Everyone was passing the ball and it was very fast. When we saw the first player free we passed it to them, which made the game very fast and [therefore] easier.”
Result: Women’s Match 34
Netherlands 7, USA 1
Player of the Match: Xan de Waard (NED)
- PTC NEWS
