Hockey World Cup 2010 - - 2nd Semi-final Netherland Vs. Australia, Dutch Beaten by The Professionalism of Australians

The Orange team was beaten 2-1 by Australia. The only Dutch goal to be made was a penalty by Taeke Taekema. The Australians were favourite to win the match as they beat the Dutch hands down in the Champions Trophy in Melbourne in November. The match was indeed dominated by the Australians.

Displaying nerves of steel, Australia survived dying minutes' scare as they overcame a resolute Holland 2-1 to set up a title clash with Germany for the third time in a row in the Hero Honda Hockey World Cup here tonight. For Australia, who led 1-0 at half time, the goal scorers were Luke Doerner and Glenn Turner, while for Holland Taeke Taekema converted a penalty stroke to score the lone goal for the losers. Australia, who had beaten Holland in champions trophy after trailing 0-2 at one stage, kept their supremacy over the Dutch once again and made it to the final of the competition for the fourth time.

They have won it only once (in 1986) and have been runners up to Germany in the last two editions. In a fast-paced exciting encounter, Australia dominated the game and should have won by a higher margin but for the missed chances and some superb goal keeping by veteran Guus Vogels, who was playing his last World Cup. The match had all the ingredients of a thriller with ball changing sides at a furious pace, but it were the Aussies who had more share of attacks in the first session. The Dutch came into the picture in the second phase of the last session but by the time it was too late. Australia, who had not lost to Holland in their last nine matches at major tournaments-Olympic, World cup and Champions trophy, knew their rival’s game well. They did not concede many penalty corners-only three- and also kept the rival strikers under check. Teun de Nooijer was marked and so was Robert Horst and then Aussies also packed their defence and the Dutch found it hard to break in. The Aussies should have taken the lead but Liam De Young’s strong cross went a begging as Glenn Turner just failed to connect it. Holland countered and forced a penalty corner but Jeroen Hertzberger’s sweep was straight into the goalkeeper Nathan Burgers who had fallen on the ground. After missing few good chances, Australians created a split in the Dutch defence in the 27th minute when Jamie Dwyer moved into their circle and he was blocked leading to a penalty corner. Luke Doerner with a powerful drag flick sent the ball into the net for his seventh goal of the tournament. Stunned by the goal, Dutchmen went on the attack and earned their second penalty corner but it was wasted as the push was not stopped and the counter followed which fetched the Aussies their second penalty corner and it also met the same fate.

There were more attacks by the Dutchmen in the second session but the Aussies were in no mood to let go their lead. They defended their citadel successfully and also kept making some very incisive moves. The attacks and counter attacks forced the teams to beef up their defence and still the Aussies managed to harrase the Dutchmen and in the 55th minute they increased their lead through Turner who intercepted a ball inside the circle and with a first timer crashed into the goal (2-0) and it turned out to be the winner. The Dutchmen had no options but to go flat out on the attack and they put tremendous pressure on their rivals but could not beat Nathan Burgers under the bar. They managed to force another penalty corner in the 58th minute which led to a stroke and this was duly converted by Taekema (1-2). But after that Dutchmen did everything except scoring, the Australians were lucky to have survived the late assaults but overall they emerged as deserving winners.

Australia will play in the final on Saturday against Olympic hockey champion and titleholder Germany.

Earlier in the day, the Dutch will play European Champions England for third place.