Netherlands win Bronze in Rosario
Bronze medal match - NED 5-4 GER

The Bronze medal match between the Netherlands and Germany was a very entertaining encounter. The Olympic Champions had a powerful beginning and won their first penalty corner in the 4^th minute. Céline Wilde was sent back to the mid-line after breaking early. Despite having only three defenders left, the German goalkeeper Kristina Reynolds was able to save Maartje Paumen’s shot.

Soon after, Reynolds saved brilliantly against Naomi van As. However she was defeated by a terrific shot from Maartje Goderie (11’). Goderie won possession at the circle-line and smashed the ball into the top left corner. Germany could have equalised afterwards but their penalty corner failed and provided a counter-attack opportunity which led to the 2-0 score-line for the Netherlands. As the Germans were unable to control the injector’s ball, Kelly Jonker picked it up in midfield and attacked. As soon as she has penetrated the circle she passed to Carlien Dirkse van den Heuvel (14’) who tipped it in.

The Dutch kept on dominating and extended their lead to 3-0 when Lidewij Welten (17’) had a one-on-one with Reynolds.  The goalkeeper was able to save her first attempt but was defeated by the rebound. The Dutch stayed on fire scoring the 4-0 after Kitty van Male (19’) was marked poorly in the circle making her able to pick up a great pass coming from van As.

After Kim Lammers failed to add to the Dutch score from a penalty corner the Germans had two promising attacks and succeeded. Maike Stöckel (26’) deflected Fanny Rinne’s penalty corner shot into the goal and all-time record player Natascha Keller scored a stunning goal one minute later. The German double-strike was a wake-up call for the Dutch who replied immediately with Marylin Agliotti (30’) netting the 5-2. This was the second Champions Trophy match ever with seven goals scored in the first half. The first time this has happened was in the 2009 Bronze medal match as well between Netherlands and Germany.

The second half was not that spectacular until Germany provided another double-strike. Keller (54’) scored another phenomenal goal when she penetrated the circle from the right, waited for the Dutch goalkeeper Joyce Sombroek to react and smashed the ball in. One minute afterwards Stöckel (55’) deflected another penalty corner shot from Rinne into the goal showing the same variation as in the first half.

Germany took control of the match from this point on. They went for the equaliser and substituted their goalkeeper for an 11^th field player with three minutes to go. However their tactical change did not reap reward and Germany lost their sixth successive Champions Trophy match against the Netherlands.

Match Review 23. Final 3-4 Netherlands - Germany 5-4

> Netherlands took bronze to collect a record breaking 18th CT medal (6 Gold – 4 Silver – 8 Bronze).

> This match equalled the record for most goals (9) in a CT match. Other 9-goal CT matches: 1987 KOR-NZL 8-1, 1993 AUS-ESP 8-1 and 2005 NED-GER 8-1.

> Germany have now won 3 and lost 4 of their 7 bronze medal matches in CT competition.

> Netherlands have won all 7 of their bronze medal matches in CT competition, including 1 on penalty strokes.

> Netherlands have now won 6 successive CT matches against Germany since drawing 1-1 in 2007.

> The Dutch have scored a total of 19 goals at Rosario 2012 – 15 field goals and 4 penalty corner goals. The only team to have scored more field goals in a single CT edition is Australia (17 FG) in 1999.

> Today’s match marked only the 2nd CT match ever with 7 goals scored in the first half. The first time this happened was in the 2009 CT Final 3-4 between Netherlands and Germany 5-2 (5-2)

> The only CT match with 7 goals scored after half-time is 2005 Netherlands – Germany 8-1.

> Natascha Keller scored twice today, to lift her CT career total to 21 goals, only 1 short of equalling the German record of 22 CT goals by Nadine Ernsting-Krienke.

> Netherlands failed to convert 3 penalty corners today and finish Rosario 2012 on 4 goals from 28 penalty corners awarded (14%).

> Germany converted 2 of 4 penalty corners today to finish Rosario 2012 on 7 PC goals from 23 penalty corners awarded (30%).

Match Preview 23. Final 3-4 Netherlands - Germany (February 5th, 5:30pm)

Head-to-Heads

> These teams have met 17 times in CT competition. Netherland have won 11 matches, Germany have won 2 and there have been 4 draws.

> Netherlands have won 5 successive CT matches against Germany since drawing 1-1 in 2007.

> Netherlands have won all three CT knock-out matches against Germany, beating them 3-2 in the 2000 CT final, 2-0 in the 2004 CT final and 5-2 in the 2009 third place play-off.

> In 2011 these teams met 5 times. The Dutch beat Germany 2-1 at the CT (goals by Carlijn Welten, Kim Lammers and Natascha Keller) and 3-0 in the 2011 EuroHockey Championship final (goals by Marilyn Agliotti, Ellen Hoog and Lidewij Welten).

> Germany’s last victory over the Netherlands came in July 2011, when they won 1 of 2 test matches in Mainz; 3-2 win and 4-2 defeat.

> Their last meeting came in a test match in November 2011, which was won 5-0 by the Netherlands goals scored by Maartje Paumen, Naomi van As (2) and Sabine Mol (2).

Netherlands

> The Dutch have collected a record 17 CT medals. They have won a medal in the last 14 Champions Trophy editions. They have finished in the top 3 in 17 of their 18 previous CT participations.

> The Netherlands have conceded 6 goals. Only GB have conceded less (4 goals) at Rosario 2012.

> Netherland have been awarded 24 penalty corners in five matches at Rosario 2012. Only Korea had collected more in their first 5 matches (25).

> The Dutch have converted 4 of 24 penalty corners awarded at the 2012 Champions Trophy (16%).

> Maartje Paumen in the all-time CT goalscorer on 25 CT goals (23 PC – 2PS).

> Kim Lammers is on 21 CT career goals, including 18 field goals. She needs to score only one more field goal to equal Nadine Ernsting-Krienke’s record of 19 field goals in CT competition.

> Kim Lammers has scored 4 of her 21 CT goals against Germany. Marilyn Agliotti and Maartje Paumen have scored 3 CT goals against Germany.

> Joyce Sombroek, Willemijn Bos and Maartje Paumen were all selected in the FIH 2011 Women’s All Star team.

> Netherlands and GB have scored most goals, coming into the last day of competition at Rosario 2012 (14goals).

Germany

> Both Germany and Netherlands feature in a third place play-off for a record 7th time in CT history. Germany have won 3 and lost 3 of the previous 6. Netherlands have won all previous 6 including 1 on penalty strokes.

> Germany’s last CT medal dates back to 2008, when they claimed silver, losing to Argentina in the final.

> In 2009 and 2010 Germany lost the 3^rd place play-off. They last won the battle for third place in 2007, beating Australia.

> Natascha Keller (1G-4S-1B) and Fanny Rinne (1G-3S-2B) both chase a 7th CT medal. The record for most CT medals by a German player is 8 by Nadine Ernsting-Krienke (1G-4S-3B).

> Germany are on 5 for 19 in terms of penalty corners converted this tournament (26%).

> Germany have conceded 5 PC goals from 16 penalty corners awarded against them (31%).

> Nina Hasselmann and Lisa Hahn are on 3 goals for Germany this tournament. Céline Wilde has scored twice.

> Anke Brockmann, Hannah Krüger, Marie Mävers and Tina Schütze are on 1 goal each at Rosario 2012.

> Yvonne Frank, Julia Müller and Natascha Keller were selected in the 2011 FIH Women’s All Stars team.