Netherlands win easy

Vaibhav Sharma

Tribune News Service

Netherlands’ Evers tries to dodge German players during the Punjab Gold Cup Hockey Tournament in Chandigarh on Saturday. Tribune photo: Pradeep Tiwari

Chandigarh, January 31

The German team, it seemed, found it hard to cope with the winter chill of Northern India as they were beaten 2-0 in the second game of the four-nation Punjab Gold Cup hockey tournament here today.

The opening exchanges were placid and the two sides took time to get into their stride. The Dutch played with a heavy midfield and dominated possession through the match.

There was little to excite the crowd as the teams could do little inside the opposition 16-yard box.

The only chance of the first half fell to the Netherlands as Hertzberger shot at the goal from close range only to find the post.

The ball was in play but Evers failed to beat the Weinhold, and shot straight at his body. At the breather neither goal had been breached.

In the second half, the Dutch picked up the tempo. The relentless prodding paid for the Dutch as in the 41st minute, Judge, on receiving a pass from Hofman, inside the 16-yard box, beat Weinhold with a controlled lob to put his side in the lead.

But the misery was to pile on for the Germans as the Netherlands got a penalty corner in the 62nd minute and this time Hertzberger was there to add the finish with a thumping shot, low left into the goal, to make it 2-0.

Germany made some attempts in the dying moments, but were out of sorts. Hertzberger was yellow carded in the 70th minute for a challenge on Muller, but the advantage came too late for Germany and the Netherlands walked away with three points. Netherlands’ Judge was declared the Man of the Match.