Heartbreak for Blacksticks as Dutch win Bronze
Owen G Glenn FIH Champions Trophy: Bronze Medal Match
New Zealand 3 – 5 Netherlands
The Netherlands have won the Bronze medal at the Owen G Glenn FIH Champions Trophy after defeating New Zealand 5-3 in an epic clash watched by nearly 4000 people. A remarkable encounter ebbed and flowed before the Dutchmen finally broke free of their resilient opponents with goals in the 67^th and 69^th minutes from Bob de Voogd and Billy Bakker respectively.

It was a special day for Netherlands legend Teun de Nooijer, who netted a goal in a win that made him the all time record holder in terms of Champions Trophy medals. The 35-year-old playmaker now has 13 CT medals in his collection, moving him ahead of former team-mate Jeroen Delmee. The result also ensured that the Netherlands moved into the record books, as they have now won more bronze medals than any other team in Champions Trophy history with seven.

Although it was a disappointing day for New Zealand, they can also be proud of their achievements here in Auckland. The Black Sticks equaled their best ever Champions Trophy finish of fourth place. However, their fourth place finish in 1978 was on a competition containing just five teams, compared with the eight that have been in action at the Owen G Glenn Champions Trophy.

The Netherlands were on top for the opening ten minutes of the game and deservedly took the lead when Jeroen Hertzberger’s shot proved too hot to handle for outstanding New Zealand keeper Kyle Pontifex.  However, the Black Sticks soon found their feet and pulled themselves level through Nick Wilson’s smart near post deflection.

Teun de Nooijer notched his 43^rd Champions Trophy goal in the 28^th minute and it seemed that The Netherlands would hang on to their lead at least until half time, but Simon Child squared things up two minutes before the break when he fired under the crossbar.

A frenetic and physical second half saw a number of players sent to the sin-bin before Mink van der Weerden rattled in a penalty corner drag flick into the New Zealand goal in the 57^th minute. Incredibly, New Zealand levelled the scores again five minutes from the end of the game thanks to a penalty corner volley from Stephen Jenness.

Just when it seemed as if the match was going to extra time, The Netherlands hit a fourth goal when Teun de Nooijer sent a beautiful pass through to Bob de Voogd who touched the ball into the goal from close range.

Knowing that they had nothing to lose, New Zealand brought on a kicking back in place of their goal keeper, a tactic which worked like a charm in the meeting between the two teams on Tuesday. Sadly, The Netherlands took full advantage of the keeper-less goal and killed off the game when Billy Bakker scored his fifth goal of the tournament.
“New Zealand have hosted a fantastic Champions Trophy, it seemed like we were playing against 12 with the crowd,” said Netherlands coach Paul van Ass shortly after the game. “We were obviously very disappointed to miss the final… we felt that we had lost the gold but now we will go away with winning bronze, which is a much better feeling.”

New Zealand captain Dean Couzins was saddened by the defeat but was also proud of his team and the wonderful support received from the Black Sticks fans who had cheered them on throughout the tournament. “The crowd were fantastic today”, said Couzins. “Truly it will be a memory that will live with all of us for a very long time.”

New Zealand – Netherlands 3-5 - Owen G Glenn FIH Champions Trophy Men 2011
> Netherland win the bronze medal for a record 7th time in CT history. 
> This marks the 21st CT medal for the Netherlands. Only Australia (26 including 2011) and Germany (22) have won more.
> Teun de Nooijer broke the record for most medals won by collecting his 13th CT medal (6G – 2S – 5B).
> The Black Sticks equal their best CT result, which was fourth place (of five) at the inaugural CT in 1978.
> The Dutch score at least 5 goals in a CT match for the first time since beating Spain 5-2 in 2010.
> Jeroen Hertzberger also scored in Holland's 3-3 draw with New Zealand in the Pool B
> Teun de Nooijer scored his 43rd CT career goal and is first since scoring twice against Germany in the 2010 Final 3-4.
> Bob de Voogd scored his 2nd goal of the tournament.
> Billy Bakker scored his 5th goal of the tournament. Only Jamie Dwyer has scored more (7).
> Nick Wilson scored his 2nd goal of the tournament. In 2010 he scored 4 CT goals.
> Simon Child scored his first goal of the tournament. In 2010 he netted 4 CT goals including one against Netherlands (3-1 win).
> Stephen Jenness scored his first CT goal by scoring a PC goal.
> Netherlands converted 1 of 4 PCs in this match and conclude Auckland 2011 on 3 for 25 (12%).
> New Zealand converted 1 of 3 PCs in this match and conclude Auckland 2011 on 4 for 18 (22%).
> On 3 goals Andy Hayward is New Zealand’s top goal scorer at Auckland 2011.

New Zealand – Netherlands (11Dec 2011, 15:35) - Owen G Glenn FIH Champions Trophy Men 2011 

Head-to-heads

> Netherlands have won 3 of 5 Champions Trophy matches against New Zealand, but are winless in their last 2.
> At Auckland 2011 New Zealand came back from 3 goals down to draw 3-3 with the Dutch in Pool B.
> At Monchengladbach 2010, New Zealand beat the Netherlands (3-1) through goals by Simon Child, Andy Hayward (PC), Blair Hilton and Teun de Nooijer (PS).
> Holland’s last CT win over the Black Sticks dates back to 2004 (5-2). This is also their biggest CT win over New Zealand.
> Holland’s last win over New Zealand in official matches came at the 2010 World Cup (3-1) goals by Ronald Brouwer, Taeke Taekema (PC), Jeroen Hertzberger and Phillip Burrows. 

Netherlands Facts

> Netherlands play in the third place play-off for the 5th year in succession.
> The Dutch play in a CT bronze medal match for a record 12th time. They claimed the bronze medal in 6 of their 11 previous Final 3-4 matches since the introduction of the format in 1992.
> 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 bronze in Auckland.
> The Dutch are winless in their last 3 matches, since winning their first two matches at Auckland 2011 vs Korea (2-0) and Germany (3-2).
> The last time Netherland failed to win in 4 successive CT matches was in 2008 (last 4 matches of that tournament).
> Billy Bakker has scored 4 goals in 5 matches at Auckland 2011. He only failed to score against Spain.
> Netherlands (2-0 vs Korea) and Germany (5-0 vs Pakistan) are the only teams to have kept a clean sheet at Auckland 2011.
> Goalkeepers Pirmin Blaak (NED) and Stephen Graham (NZL) are 2 of 3 players that have not seen any action at Auckland 2011. The other player is Spain’s goal keeper Xavi Castillano (ESP).

New Zealand Facts

> New Zealand will play in the third place play-off for the first time in CT history.
> The Black Sticks can emulate their best CT result, which was fourth place (of five) at the inaugural CT in 1978 when a round robin competition was held.
> New Zealand’s only win in 5 matches at Auckland 2011 came against Korea 6-1.
> The Black Sticks’ biggest achievement this tournament was coming back from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 with the Netherlands and thus secure a berth in the medal Pool.
> New Zealand are on 3 for 15 in terms of penalty corners converted (20%).
> New Zealand have only conceded 2 PC goals from 17 attempts.
> Andy Hayward is New Zealand’s top scorer on 3 goals this tournament.
> Hayward is also New Zealand’s all-time top scorers in CT competition on 7 goals, all from penalty corners.
> Simon Child and Nick Wilson are team mates with Roderick Weusthof, Robert van der Horst, Jeroen Hertzberger and Pirmin Blaak at Dutch side HC Rotterdam.