Champions Trophy: Kiwis record historic win over Dutch

MOENCHENGLADBACH (Germany): New Zealand recorded their first ever men’s Champions Trophy victory over powerhouse the Netherlands on Tuesday with a sensational 3-1 win.

It was the ‘Blacksticks’ first win in the Champions Trophy in 32 years since defeating Spain 4-0 in the inaugural event in Pakistan in 1978.

Spain won their first match of the tournament with a 3-2 victory over hosts Germany, Germany’s first defeat in an international tournament at this venue, built in 2006 for the World Cup, won by Germany.

World Champions Australia went to the top of the table with their third victory from three matches, beating European Champions England 3-2.

New Zealand’s Simon Child jolted Netherlands 10 minutes into the second half, scoring from his persistent run along the right backline, getting under Netherlands keeper Mark Jenniskins to score from close range.

Netherlands conceded a penalty corner, converted low inside the right post by Andrew Hayward giving New Zealand a 2-0 advantage, 7 minutes before the break.

Netherlands applied pressure on New Zealand early in the second half, gained a penalty corner and a penalty stroke from New Zealand’s defensive infringement.

Teun de Nooijer beat Blackstick keeper Kyle Pontifex with his flick low inside the right post.

Blair Hilton scored New Zealand’s third goal a couple of minutes after de Nooijer’s goal, finishing a strong movement into the circle by Phillip Burrows, taking a rebound off the pads of Jenniskins to push into goal.

Blacksticks coach Shane McLeod saw it as a momentous result.

“For us it is a very good result and it has been a long time coming to get our first win in the Champions Trophy for 32 years and to beat Holland for the first time in the Champions Trophy means a lot to our guys,” McLeod said.

Netherlands coach Paul van Ass agreed his team played poorly.

“We started very poorly and we had no ball speed and no rhythm and that helped New Zealand a little bit but they did a fantastic job in our weakest moments which were the first fifteen minutes,” van Ass said.

Australia’s 3-2 win reversed the first round 3-2 loss to England at the March World Cup.

Simon Orchard deflected in Jamie Dwyer’s drive from the top of the circle for Australia’s first goal.

Matthew Swann capped an interception in midfield, passed to Desmond Abbott to work into the circle and Swann took the back pass to score from close range into the right of goal in the middle of the first half.

Australia looked comfortable with the 2-0 lead and paid the price by conceding a penalty corner for England’s Ashley Jackson to flick low inside the left post.

Luke Doerner converted Australia’s third penalty corner chance, correcting a poor stop at the battery to pass right, received the ball back and make a simple flick into goal to give Australia a 3-1 lead at the break.

Jonty Clarke’s individual goal in the last five minutes gave England some hope of a draw however Australia’s defence held firm until the last second when the umpires called for a video referral as the final siren sounded.

Seven minutes later the umpires left the pitch, deciding not to order a last second penalty corner against Australia.

Australia coach Richard Charlesworth criticised Australia’s performance.

“Our skill production was disappointing today and while the numbers are good of percentage of possession and penetrations into the circle, we did not have any finish,” Charlesworth said.