The Netherlands reach the Final!

26th August, GANT EHC in Mönchengladbach, Men: Belgium – Netherlands 2:4 (2:2)

26.08.2011 - The men from the Netherlands marched through to the final of the 2011 GANT EuroHockey Championships by beating the valiant Belgians 4:2 (2:2) on Friday evening. Corner specialist Taeke Taekema was once again the match winner with two goals for the Oranjes. Belgium had the better start in the semi-final and put pressure on the Dutch circle from the word go.

The favoured Dutch team needed time to find their form. In the seventh minute Billy Bakker didn’t get a full hit of the ball in the Belgian circle, so that there was hardly any danger of it getting past Belgian goalkeeper David von Rysselberghe. Belgium also had their chances: Simon Gougnard’s stroke was, however, not hard enough. In the fifteenth minute Holland’s Valentin Verga had the fastest reflexes when the Belgian goalie just let the ball drop – Netherlands in the lead.

But Belgium did not give up: once again fired on by the loud cheers of their numerous fans, they kept in the game. Florent von Aubel powered into the Dutch circle and scored the well-deserved equalizer with a terrific flat shot. Belgium now had control of the play. In a confused situation after a penalty corner Simon Gougnard stroked the ball over the line, but it wasn’t until after a long consultation with the video umpire that the goal was allowed to stand.

Holland’s corner specialist Taeke Taekema kept his team in the game with a converted corner shot into the right corner (32). Seconds before the half-time whistle, Bob Voogd had the Dutch lead on the tip of his stick, but his Argentinian backhand soared high over the Belgian goal, and so the score remained tied. At the beginning of the second half Holland was the dominant team. Taekema again used a penalty corner to put the Netherlands in the lead – this time with a flat shot into the left corner (40).

It wasn’t until his third set piece that Taekema’s luck run out. The Belgian defence was able to clear his shot from the line (45). Belgium now tried to get back in the game, but they could not create any action in the circle against the clever Dutch defence, whereas the Dutch countered dangerously again and again. De Voogd again reached the Belgian circle with a 20 metre solo, but mishit from an acute angle. Shortly afterwards Robbert Kempermann got through to the back line and shot the decisive 4:2 from a sharp angle (61).

Belgium then started to reapply the pressure but were not able to penetrate into the Dutch circle. The Netherlands protected their lead, and therefore their place in the final of the GANT EuroHockey European Championships, and even had a few excursions into the Belgian circle. But nothing came of them. One strong Belgian half was not after all sufficient to endanger the favourite’s victory.

Goals:

0:1 Valentin Verga (15)

1:1 Florent von Aubel (22)

2:1 Simon Gougnard (29)

2:2 Taeke Taekema (32, PC)

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2:3 Taeke Taekema (40, PC)

2:4 Robbert Kempermann (61)

Penalty corners:

BEL 1 (1 goal) / NED 4 (2 goals)

Green cards:

- / Seve van Ass (49)

Umpires:

Hamish Jamson / Christian Blasch