Saturday 28 November
13:05 GER : ENG 3:2 (1:1)
15:05 AUS : KOR 4:0 (2:0)
17:05 ESP : NED 2:3 (0:2)
The Netherlands narrowly escaped with all 3 points after avoiding a fiery second half comeback from Spain. The Dutch emerged as 3-2 winners in a game that burst into life in the second half following a Dutch dominated first period. This game will be remembered as the game that Taeke TAEKEMA overtook Sohail ABBAS on the Champions Trophy all time goal scorers list.
The first half was controlled by the Dutch, both in terms of possession and also on the scoreboard. In the 14th minute Taeke TAEKEMA gave his side the lead and also claimed his position at the top of the mantle of all time goal scorers in the Champions Trophy with 41 goals. Two minutes later it was captain Teun DE NOOIJER who extended the Dutch lead, sliding in to guide a classy reverse stick strike from Roderick WEUSTOF into the net.
The first goal of the second half followed a similar trend to that of the first half, with TAEKEMA collecting his 42nd Champions Trophy goal from another Penalty Corner. The game looked almost dead as Holland took the 3-0 ascendancy over Olympic silver medalists Spain. It was then that the Spanish sparked into life and began to play the way that everyone knows they can. In the 58th minute Spain captain Pol AMAT scored a spectacular reverse stick effort to make the score 3-1. Xavier RIBAS reduced the deficit further just minutes later with a firm drag flick just inside the post, ensuring that the last nine minutes of the game would be tense for both sides. However, it was the Dutch who held on for a deserved victory and will be looking forward to taking on host nation Australia tomorrow.
