Double Dutch Sinks Hockeyroos in London
There was no respite from the jubilee drizzle as Australia opened their Investec London Cup campaign with a 2-1 defeat by the Netherlands but they showed great fight against the world number one team.
After giving a good account of themselves in the first half and going ahead just after the break, the Hockeyroos were unable to maintain their intensity and were eventually ground down by the Olympic champions.
“I was disappointed because there were things we did today that I thought we had eliminated from our game,” Coach Adam Commens said.
In persistent rain, Australia pressed the Dutch into errors and created a number of chances, Casey Eastham forcing goalkeeper Floortje Engels into a low save from a decent reverse-stick shot and Fiona Boyce also finding her shooting boots.
However, there was also drama at the other end as Hockeyroos’ keeper Toni Cronk made two decent stops to ensure the opening half ended with honours even.
The Dutch upped the gears after the break and forced three penalty corners in swift succession but their deadly weapon Maartje Paumen was unable to convert courtesy of some dogged Australian defending.
Australia’s first corner came after 45 minutes but Jodie Schulz’s hit was blocked. However as Holland pressed, the Hockeyroos counter-attacked with pace and Jade Close’s pass across the top of the circle was met by Emily Smith whose shot on the reverse flew into the net.
Their advantage was short-lived as Holland was level within three minutes, a corner slap which was meant for a deflection eventually dribbling over the line after some scrambling from Paumen.
The Dutch then took control of the match and looked more threatening with every attack. As the Hockeyroos’ defence lost some of its first-half composure, a tackle from behind resulted in a penalty stroke and Paumen converted.
As the rain poured, Australia tried to hit back and Schulz was not far away from an equaliser when she just missed from the Hockeyroos’ third corner, while goalkeeper Engels was also on her toes to keep out three shots, as Australia peppered her goal in the dying moments.
“It’s important to recognise that they are ranked Number one in the world and we are seventh,” Commens said.
“I was pleased that we were able to run them that close but we had a few players who had been in quite good form leading up to this but who didn’t produce when under pressure.
“The security of our ball handling was not good enough and that is what happens when you have to play at a higher speed, you make more errors.
“We have played matches recently where we have been able to dominate and so haven’t been put under that sort of pressure so it was good experience for us today. If players don’t perform to the standard or don’t follow the game plan, it can be decisive.”
Fiona Boyce, Toni Cronk, Jade Close and Teneal Attard were Australia’s best.
Commens said he expects to select his Olympic squad at the end of this six-nation tournament being played at the University of Westminster Sports Ground in Chiswick, West London. The Hockeyroos play Ireland today.
The other sides taking part are Great Britain, South Africa and Germany. The hosts, who are missing key players through injury, lost 3-1 to South Africa in their opening match.
– Hockey Australia
