Dutch women advance to World Cup final

ROSARIO: Kim Lammers slotted the last stroke just inside the left post to give Netherlands a 4-3 victory over England on penalties on Thursday and a berth in the women’s field hockey World Cup final.

After battling England to a 1-1 draw through regulation and extra-time, the Dutch advanced to face the winner of a second semifinal between Argentina and Germany to be played later on Thursday.

England held the Dutch scoreless in the first half despite four penalty corners to ace drag-flicker Maartje Paumen, who scored nine penalty corners in the pool matches, four more than her closest rival.

Netherlands played conservatively, taking the measure of England and relying on Paumen’s penalty corner conversions to score.

Crista Cullen set up England’s goal mid-way through the second half, driving a free hit on the right into the circle for Hannah MacLeod to tip in a deflection past Dutch keeper Joyce Somroek.

England’s goal caused the Dutch to lift their tempo and apply sustained pressure on England’s defence for five minutes and gain a fifth penalty corner, converted inside the right post by Paumen.

In the last eight minutes, Naomi van As weaved into the circle without getting a shot for Netherlands and at the other end, Kerry Williams missed a cross in front of goal for England.

Netherlands earned a penalty corner with 29 seconds on the clock, but the video umpire overturned the decision and the match went to extra time, in which each team had one goal chance but failed to score.

In the penalty shoot-out, Helen Richardson and Cullen and Chloe Rogers scored for England while skipper Kate Walsh and Charlotte Craddock missed.

Paumen, skipper Janneke Schopman and Maartje Goderie scored for Netherlands and Lidewij Welten missed, setting up Lammers to score with the last deciding stroke.

England coach Danny Kerry acknowledged Netherlands superiority.

“While it is difficult for me to say, I think Netherlands deserve their place in the final,” Kerry said.

“I am incredibly proud that my team could push them so close today which shows how far we have come in such a short time to hold one of the best teams in the world.”

Netherlands coach Herman Kruis found it a tough match.

“In the first half we missed some good chances to score and we had to work very hard to equalise after England scored in the second half, then we won the penalty corner and scored so at the end I am very proud of the way my players made their penalty strokes,” Kruis said.

Japan defeated Spain 2-1 to take 11th place. In other consolation matches Friday, South Korea play Australia for fifth, China meet New Zealand for seventh and India face South Africa for ninth.