The Netherlands snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in a high-voltage Women’s Champions Trophy final here in Amsterdam this afternoon.
Carla Rebecchi opened the scoring for Argentina in less than 60 seconds, and Luciana Aymar and Daniela Sruoga had made it 3-0 just before the half time hooter.
Maatje Paumen’s penalty corner goal before the break might have been no more than a consolation goal for the Dutch. But Paumen, whose corner striking has often been the winning factor for Dutch teams in the past, notched up two more in the first few minutes of the second half.
The match ending at 3-3, and with no resolution after golden goal extra time, saw the match decided on a EuroHockey League style one-on-one shoot out. At 3-2 in the shoot out, Sruoga was unable to score at her attempt, and match and the Champions Trophy went to the Dutch.
It was anticipated that the bronze medal match would start with some sort of protest by the Koreans for their relegation from playing in the final, but if it was ever planned it did not take place. As if to run salt into wound, their opponents took the match 3-2, with Charlotte Harrison scoring in the 70th minute.
Champions Trophy, Amsterdam, final positions:
1. The Netherlands
2. Argentina
3. New Zealand
4. Korea
5. England
6. Australia*
7. China*
8. Germany*
*Relegated from the 2012 Champions Trophy.
We are busy putting the last images on our photos web site at www.HockeyImages.co.uk and expect the last ones to be uploaded some time tomorrow (Monday).
