Women from the Netherlands are first finalists

25th August, GANT EHC (women) in Mönchengladbach: Netherlands – England 2:0 (1:0)

25.08.2011 - Holland was true to its role as favourite, pulling through the game against England to earn a well-deserved final spot 2:0 (1:0). Carlie Dirkse van der Heuvel and Kim Lammers didn’t only win their team a place in the final, they also won them a place at the 2012 London Olympics. The record-breaking European champions from the Netherlands will now meet Germany or Spain at 15:30 on Saturday. England had almost no answer for the experienced Dutch women and now have to be satisfied with the play-offs for places three and four.

The Oranje coach Max Caldas was very pleased with his team’s red-hot show: “We’re very happy that we were able to win this difficult game and ensure our place in the final. We couldn’t shake off England, so we kept worrying until the final whistle. But we played a good game.”

England’s trainer Danny Kerry was less satisfied with the offering from his team: “We had two good chances at the beginning and two good ones at the end. For the rest of the 66 minutes, Holland was better than us.”

In a briskly played opening phase England had the first big goal chance, but after five minutes Hannah Macleod was hindered just as she was shooting at goal. This was the last dangerous action from the next Olympic hosts. The Netherlands took over the command and pushed for the first goal – which came in the eleventh minute. Carlie Dirkse van den Heuvel was quickest after a penalty corner which was parried away too shortly and pushed the ball in for the Netherlands 1:0.

England then came into the game slightly better but couldn’t build up real pressure. The Oranje were very stable defensively and wasted almost no opportunities. After 27 minutes, Maartje Paumen almost ensured the preliminary decision, but her corner goal was disallowed after video evidence. Shortly after the change of ends, the very active Kim Lammers appeared in front of Elizabeth Storry, but lost her nerve and stumbled. But she improved in the 59th minute.

Eva de Goede was nicely played free in the circle and hammered the ball in front of the goalmouth. Lammers held her stick straight – 2:0. Until then Holland had dominated the game and successfully kept England away from their goal. In the 66th minute the English fans almost had their best change to celebrate, but the English captain Kate Walsh failed to convert a penalty corner thanks to the Dutch keeper Joyce Sombroek. The Netherlands didn’t give them any more chances and qualified for the final with a well-earned victory.

Goals:

1:0 Carlie Dirkse van den Heuvel (PC, 11)

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2:0 Kim Lammers (59.)

Penalty corners:

NED 3 (1 goal / ENG 1 (-)

Umpires:

Eskina / Ashton-Lucy