It was sweet revenge for Netherlands against defending champions Spain, by a thin 3-2 margin in their third outing in the
Champions trophy hockey tournament at the Mayor Radhakrishnan stadium here today.
The win gave the Dutch three more points and their
second victory after being held to a 2-2 draw by Germany on the second day. The Dutch now have seven points from three matches and further strengthened their chances of regaining the title which they have won seven times so far. The win avenged their loss to Spain in the European championship final in August this year.
Their attack spearheaded by Mathijs Brouwer, Karel Klaver and the irrepressible Teun de Nooijer and Ronald Brouwer, the Dutch dominated play throughout the first half with both teams desperate not to concede the advantage of an early lead to the rival.
However, the Dutch making several probing moves on the flanks, succeeded in splitting the strong Spanish
defence when Mathijs Brouwer deflected the ball in.
However the gritty Spaniards managed to mount a few attacking moves. They also forced three penalty corners but failed to convert any. Santi Freixa, Deduard Tubau, Eduard Tubau and Pablo Amat gave the Dutch defence many a tense moments. But the Dutch goalkeeper Guus Vogels stood up to the onslaught by the Spaniards, barring the two defence lapses in the second half.
The Dutch, who went into the second session with a 1-0 lead, built on it with Mathijs hoodwinking Spain's defence in the 54th minute banging home a right flank cross from Timme Hoyng(2-0).
The Dutch struck again in the 56th minute for a 3-0 lead when Karel Klaver dashed down the right flank in a solo run. He owed the goal to a blunder by Spain's custodian Bernardino Herrera, who advanced out of position leaving all the space in the world, as it were, for Klaver's shot to find the target.
However, Spain recovered to rally in the 60th and 64th minute.
First Santi Feixa made no mistake again to convert the team's fifth penalty corner. He had failed on the first four. Then trapping a cross from the right flank, Eduard Tubau sent in a rasping drive taking full advantage of the Spanish defenders who were out of position.
Spain suffered their second loss, having been beaten by the formidable Aussies after registering a narrow win against India in their first outing. They have four points from three matches and are in a difficult position to retain the title.