s2h Team

Jeroen Hertzberger celebrated his 250^th cap in the Oranje shirt with a double strike to help give the Netherlands a 3-1 win over Great Britain in the second FIH Pro League match at the Wagener Stadion, Amstelveen, on Thursday.

The veteran striker took his tally to 120 goals while ending Dutch frustration in the third quarter after the teams crossed over at half time with the scores 1-1 despite almost incessant domination by the home side.

The match stats say it all. The Netherlands, who won the first match 1-0 on Tuesday, led on all counts: 21-4 for shots on goal, 29-14 (circle penetrations), 56-44 (percentage possession) and 10-4 for penalty corners.

Mink van der Weerden, scored the first Dutch goal

After the British struck the post in the second minute, the Dutch took over. There was little respite for the defence as the home side took control of the mid-field after lacklustre British attacks often ended in turnovers.

Mink van der Weerden shot the Netherlands ahead with a penalty corner drag-flick in the ninth minute but a two-goal cushion never came their way as a spate of chances went abegging.

The Dutch were punished for prodigality on the stroke of halftime when Phil Roper scored after a delightful penalty corner variation.

The Dutch may have wondered what they had to do to score as the minutes ticked by but Hertzberger induced relief in the camp when he came out of nowhere on the right-hand side of the circle to deflect home Van der Weerden’s penalty corner strike in the 47^th minute.

A minute later, the 34-year-old was at the right place to tap home a defence-splitting pass from the right flank by Robbert Kemperman.

The reward for victory meant the Netherlands collected their 17^th point to trail leaders Belgium, the World Cup champions, by just a solitary point. Britain are at the bottom with five points from six matches.

Playing earlier, the Netherlands women outplayed Great Britain 3-0 to collect three points to add to two they garnered on Tuesday after winning the shootout following a 1-1 draw.

The Dutch raised their game a notch or two higher and fully deserved victory. Caia van Maasakker drew first blood from a penalty stroke in the second minute and Frederique Matla and Eva de Goede struck from penalty corners to bring up a comprehensive win.

The Netherlands sit pretty at the top of the table, three clear points adrift of second-placed Argentina and with a game in hand. Great Britain, the Olympic champions, are in distant sixth position.

FIH Hockey Pro League 
Thursday 29 October 2020 – Amstelveen (NED)

Women’s result: Netherlands 3, Great Britain 0 (Match 2 of 2)
Player of the Match: Eva de Goede (NED)
Umpires: Celine Martin-Schmets (BEL), Coen van Bunge (NED)  and Laurine Delforge (BEL – video)

Men’s result: Netherlands 3, Great Britain 1 (Match 2 of 2)
Player of the Match: Jeroen Hertzberger (NED)
Umpires: Laurine Delforge (BEL), Jonas van t’ Hek (NED) and Coen van Bunge (NED  – video)