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Netherlands edge Korea 1-0 in drab match

The storm which forced the postponement of the Korea-Netherlands Champions Trophy match yesterday seemed to have also washed away all forms of entertaining hockey from both teams.

The Netherlands edged Korea 1-0 in the match which was rescheduled from 5:00 pm Sunday to 12:10 pm today due to the storms and was played before only a few hundred spectators, rather than the capacity crowd expected Sunday.

Despite the narrow victory, it was a match which the Dutch team should have won easily and the final scoreline flattered Korea. Korea’s back three of Ji Seung-hwan, Kim Yong-bae and Lim Jung-woo gave the Netherlands strikers space to penetrate the circle by failing to mark accurately.

In midfield, the Netherlands slowed play, denying Korea the advantage of their speed and fitness which they have used often with deadly effect in the past.

Although the Dutch forwards were not really on song today, credit should go to Korean goalkeeper Kim Yoon who kept out 4 goals in the first half from deflections and shots by Teun de Nooijer, Stephan Veen, Piet Hein Geeris and Matthijs Brouwer.

Korea penetrated the Netherlands circle only once in the first half but the weak shot on goal by Seo Jong-ho did not trouble Roland Jansen in goal for the Netherlands

With the engine room struggling, it was inevitable that it would be Korea who would concede the first and only goal.

But the Dutch waited until the 32nd when Marten Eikelboom struck a reverse hit high to the right of Kim Yoon in goal off a free hit from outside the D.

The goal forced Korea into action but Song Seung-tae found Sander van der Weide a tough defensive wall to crack when his 39th minute shot from 9 metres out was stopped at point blank.

The leading goal-scorer at the Champions Trophy last year in Brisbane, Song scored only 2 goals in the Olympic Qualifier tournament in Osaka in March and none in two matches here.

Perhaps his multiple roles as captain, midfield playmaker and striker have interfered with Song's scoring ability.

In an earlier match, Spain and Australia met for the second time in 24 hours and played to a 1-1 draw.

It was a match which Spain had the upper hand and should have won, Eduard Tubau scored from the field 10 minutes after the break to give Spain the lead.

But after Jay Stacy was twice denied from open play and a penalty corner by some brilliant goalkeeping, Troy Elder struck with 8 minutes on the clock to earn the point. Stephen Davies could have stolen victory for Australia but missed an open play shot with 2 minutes remaining.

In a later match, Germany tamed Great Britain 4-0 with goals coming from Christoph Bechmann (eighth), Phillip Crone (29th) Tibor Weißenborn (38th) and Björn Emmerling (55th).

Courtsey: www.hockeyasia.com