Taekema on target as Dutch defeat Korea
The Netherlands 2-0 Korea

The Netherlands proved themselves to be too strong for opponents Korea in the final match of the day here in Auckland, with the Dutch running out 2-0 winners in their first Owen G Glenn FIH Champions Trophy contest.  Legendary drag flicker Taeke Taekema scored a first half penalty corner with Billy Bakker putting the result beyond doubt with a second 16 minutes from the end of the game.

As well as being the perfect start to the Dutch ambitions of winning their first Men’s Champions Trophy title since Terrassa in 2006, it was also a day when three players reached significant milestones.   Netherlands defender Wouter Jolie played his 100^th international match; Teun de Nooijer became the first player in Champions Trophy history to play 90 matches and Taeke Taekema moved his record Champions Trophy goals haul to an incredible 46.

The Netherlands were the dominant force in the first half, despite being without star attacker Jeroen Hertzberger, who was rested due to a slight hamstring injury. It mattered little as the Dutch took charge of the match with disciplined defending and incisive attacking. Taekema stepped up to the mark to score the opening goal of the game in the seventh minute, with his flicked effort giving Korean keeper Kim Jae Hyeon little chance of saving.

Korea were arguably the better team in the second period, and went close to leveling the scores on numerous occasions. Jang Kyu Yeob missed from close range before ace striker Seo Jong Ho sent a low flick just wide of the right post from a narrow angle.

With Korea pressing high there was always the possibility of The Netherlands capitalizing on a counter-attack, which is exactly what happened in the 54^th minute. A quick pass forward found Billy Bakker, who surged into the circle and cracked a reverse stick shot under the body of goalkeeper Kim to seal victory for the Dutchmen.

Netherlands - Korea 2-0 – Owen G Glenn FIH Champions Trophy Men 2011

> The Netherlands win their opening match at a Champions Trophy for the 9th time in succession.
> Netherlands converted 1 of 2 penalty corners awarded.
> Korea are the only team that were not awarded a penalty corner on Day 1 at Auckland 2011.
> Korea failed to score in CT competition for the first time since Melbourne 2009 when they were beaten 4-0 by Australia.
> The Dutch are the only team to keep a clean sheet on Day 1 at Auckland 2011.
> All-time top CT goalscorer Taeke Taekema lifted his competition total to 46 goals, 42 of which came from penalty corners.
> Teun de Nooijer made his 90th Champions Trophy appearance. He is the first player to reach this milestone.

Head-to-heads
> Netherlands have won 6 of 11 Champions Trophy matches against Korea, losing 5 (6-0-5).
> Korea have won their last 3 CT encounters with the Dutch side, since losing 3-2 in the bronze medal match at Kuala Lumpur 2007.
> Their last CT encounter came in the 2009 bronze medal match and saw Korea beat Netherlands 4-2. This was also Korea’s last CT match as they did not participate at Monchengladbach 2010.
> Their last world level encounter came at the 2010 World Cup, when Korea beat the Dutch 2-1.
 
Netherlands Facts
> The Dutch start their 31st Champions Trophy campaign. Last year they claimed a bronze medal. Their last of 8 Champions Trophy titles dates back to 2006.
> Taeke Taekema is all-time top goalscorer in CT competition on 45 goals (from 52 CT matches)
> Taekema (2002, 2006, 2007) and Carsten Fischer (FRG, 1985, 1986, 1989) have been CT top scorer in a record 3 CT editions. Taekema can become the first player to win the top scorer title in 4 CT editions.
> Teun de Nooijer chases a record 7th Champions Trophy gold medal in Auckland.
> Craig Davies (AUS), Jeroen Delmee (NED) and Teun de Nooijer (NED) share the record for most CT medals (12). Teun de Nooijer breaks the record if the Netherlands clinch a medal in Auckland.
> De Nooijer plays his 90th Champions Trophy matches. He is the first player to reach this milestone.
> 35 of De Nooijer’s total of 42 CT goals are field goals (35FG, 5PC, 2PS).
> Minke van der Weerden has scored 5 goals in 6 CT matches all from penalty corners.
> Minke van der Weerden has scored in each of his last 3 CT matches. The record for scoring in most successive CT matches is 12 by Taeke Taekema (2001-2003).
 
Korea Facts
> Korea make their first CT appearance since 2009 when they finished third, their joint second best CT result after winning silver in 1999.
> Korea’s Jang Jong-Hyun has scored 13 goals in his 14 previous CT matches.
> Seo Jong-Ho played for Dutch sides Klein Zwitserland, Laren and Pinoké, before signing a new contract for German side Mannheimer HC last July.
> With almost 200 caps under his belt You Hyo-Sik is the most experienced player on the Korean team. He plays club hockey at Dutch side Laren.
> Jang Jong-Hyun has an incredible personal record of 13 goals in 14 Champions Trophy matches.
> Jang Jong-Hyun scored 5 of his 13 Champions Trophy goals against the Netherlands. Among active players only Australia’s Jamie Dwyer has scored more often against the Dutch in CT competition (6 goals).
> Yoo Moon-Ki, the coach of the Korean squad played 18 Ct matches between 1997 and 2001, scoring 2 goals. As a player Yoo Moon-Ki lost all 3 of his CT matches against the Netherlands.