The Dutch women will leave Argentina undefeated as they closed out their tour with a 2-0 victory over the Leonas. A Freek Moes one-timer and a Yibbi Jansen penalty stroke were the difference despite a solid defensive performance from the Leonas.
Four goals in the final six minutes of play made for exciting hockey as Argentina scored two goals to tie the game and press the Dutch to come back and regain control. Jip Janssen’s penalty stroke and Thierry Brinkman’s back-hand in the final minutes gave the Dutch the 4-2 victory over Argentina.
Argentina vs Netherlands (women & men) – Santiago del Estero, Argentina
It was a fairly even opening quarter with chances in both ends. The Netherlands women had the best chance of the quarter for either side. A brilliant right-side attack powered by Felice Albers eventually fell fortunately for Marijn Veen, who flipped the ball towards goal but it bounced just wide of Cristina Cosentino’s cage.
Eugenia Trinchinetti set up a potential opener in the second quarter. Her hard cross sailed through traffic but Agustina Albertarrio’s blast was saved by a sliding Josine Koning.
Veen forced a save out of Consentino when trying to link up with Jossje Burg at the stroke mark, while Albertarrio ran the left side and fired just wide of Koning’s net. All was still square at half time.
The second half got off with a bang as the Dutch notched their first in the 31st minute. Burg busted through traffic on the baseline to find Moes, who slid the ball past Cosentino. In the fourth quarter Kyra Fortuin ran the left side and a poor trap from defender Lucina von der Heyde allowed Albers to tee up a shot but the ball blasted wide.
The Dutch doubled their lead on a penalty stroke with two minutes to go in the game but it was all thanks to the hard running of Albers. Albers fed Moes a ball that beat Cosentino and the resulting shot by Moes hit Argentina traffic in front of the open goal. Yibbi Jansen made good from the resulting penalty stroke to make it 2-0.
After the match, Sanne Koolen said: “It was a great opponent today in Argentina. We played well as a team and then we were able to get the win. We played great and we won four games here. We really grew as a team and I’m glad we won today because Argentina played a great match and we had to beat them as a team.”
Argentina captain Rocio Sanchez added: “I think we were better with our attitude in this match but we weren’t that effective in the scoring areas or in defence some time. Sometimes we won the ball, other times we didn’t and this just the match for us today.”
It was 2-0 for the Netherlands men over Argentina up until the final six minutes of the game and then the heat turned up. Two goals just one minute apart gave Argentina renewed energy but the Dutch showed how much more they have in the tank when pushed. A penalty stroke and Thierry Brinkman blast made it a total of four goals in the last six minutes and a final score, 4-2, for the Netherlands.
The Dutch controlled most of the game in all categories, finishing with 29 circle penetrations to Argentina’s nine and 15 shots to Argentina’s six. Despite that, the Leones played a structured and strong defensive game and forced the Dutch to work for their opportunities. On the stroke of halftime Terrance Pieters’ quick hands fired a back-hand past keeper Emiliano Bosso to make it 1-0. The second goal didn’t come until the end of the third quarter when Jonas de Geus finished perfectly with a reverse stick deflection on a penalty corner flick from Jip Janssen to make it 2-0.
Argentina did have chances in the game including a Matias Rey blast just wide of Maurits Visser’s net and Netherlands post player Jorrit Croon steering a penalty corner flick off the line. The game played out much like a chess match and despite the Dutch beating Bosso twice, it was like a stalemate for opportunities.
Against the flow in the 54th minute, Lucas Toscani received a quick free hit in the Dutch circle. He turned and faked the shot to get the extra meter of space and then let go a forehand blast that flew between Visser’s legs. Less than a minute later, Facundo Zarate blasted a ball into the Dutch circle. Lucas Martinez n there to get the last touch and watch the ball bounce underneath Visser and cross the line to tie the game 2-2.
On another Netherlands attack Jorrit Croon was trying to maintain possession through heavy defensive traffic in the Argentine circle. A video referral affirmed the umpire’s call for a penalty stroke and Janssen’s resulting stroke flew just under the body of Bosso to make it 3-2 for the Netherlands. Argentina had a chance to draw level once more but Nicolas della Torre’s ripper of a flick was saved brilliantly by Visser.
Then in the final minute Tijmen Reyenga sprung Brinkman on the right side. As Brinkman cut in, the ball hit Juan Catan but then the veteran showed quick footwork to blast a back-hand through the legs of Bosso to make it 4-2. It was a stunner of a finish for the Dutch who now celebrate their first win of the Pro League season.
Rayenga, named Player of the Match, said after the game: “We played the first game (really poorly) against Argentina and today we knew we had to play better. We had a point to make to each other that we are good going into the World Cup.”
Argentina’s Nicolas Keenan said after the match: “I think we started quite well, maybe we could have been a little bit more aggressive but I think we had a good match. At the end, we needed to be more aggressive so we just pushed forward but the next time we need to start with that aggression.”
FIH Pro League – 17 December 2022
Santiago del Estero, Argentina (ARG)
Result: Women’s Match 11
Argentina 0, Netherlands 2
Player of the Game: Sanne Koolen (NED)
Umpires: Maggie Giddens (USA), Laurine Delforge (BEL), Sean Rapaport (RSA-reserve), Federico Garcia (URU-video)
Result: Men’s Match 17
Argentina 2, Netherlands 4
Player of the Match: Tijmen Reyenga (NED)
Umpires: Sean Rapaport (RSA), Ayanna McClean (TTO), Federico Garcia (URU-reserve), Maggie Giddens (USA-video)
Keep up to date with all the latest news on the FIH Hockey Pro League via the Watch.Hockey app, event website and through FIH social media channels - Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
In territories where broadcast rights agreements are not in place, fans can watch live match action from the FIH Hockey Pro League via the Watch.Hockey app.
#FIHProLeague
#HockeyInvites
