The Orange Ladies won the FIH Pro League on Monday evening in the Wagener Stadium. In Amstelveen, Germany was defeated 2-1 this time. It is the third time in four editions of the prestigious country competition that the Orange triumphs.
Only one year of the Pro League – that of last season – did not finish winning. Then Argentina took the win – and the cup – off. That cup has now been returned and will only be lifted into the air on Tuesday evening, when the Dutch take on New Zealand.
But even without a cup, the Orange celebrated yet another title. The eleventh top prize in the last twelve tournaments since the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. Captain Xan de Waard flew into the arms of Maria Verschoor, youngsters Luna Fokke and Marijn Veen jumped into the air and, with Felice Albers in front, the Paul van Ass’s team expanded the audience. Because if there’s a team that knows how to celebrate championships, it’s the Orange Ladies.
All prizes in hand
They had done it again. With three games to play in the national competition, Paul van Ass’s team can no longer be overtaken. And by conquering the Pro League, the Orange has all the prizes again. The Olympic title, the World title and the European title. And meanwhile, the next European tournament is already in sight. In seven weeks, the Orange will start the European Championship in Mönchengladbach. A tournament in Germany, with the host country as one of the main competitors.
On Friday evening , the competitor completely failed. Die Danas were slaughtered and the Orange won 5-0. But the second chance that Germany got on Monday evening also became a (difficult) prey for Paul van Ass’s team, which is getting better and better at the game system.
Attacks blown. And that’s how Orange started. Compared to Saturday ( the game against New Zealand ), Freeke Moes, Laura Nunnink, Marente Barentsen and Elzemiek Zandee watched from the stands. Luna Fokke, Joosje Burg, Marleen Jochems and Lisa Post were back in line. Already after thirty counts Paul van Ass’s team decorated the first chance (a bump ball from Yibbi Jansen) and within two minutes the first penalty corner was a fact. That ball was not stopped properly by captain Xan de Waard, who was named the best player of the Tulp Hoofdklasse in the warm-up of the game .
Whirlwind lay down
The whirlwind of the first minutes died down a bit, but when Frédérique Matla hit wide with her forehand out of the turn, it was almost a miracle that both Maria Verschoor and Pien Dicke couldn’t promote the ball to a goal. The one-two match with De Waard and Joosje Burg also failed. The major European Championship competitor gave home. Much more than they did Friday night. Not offensively, but at least she stood her ground defensively.
Felice Albers scored the second corner for the Dutch with one of her rushes over the right side, but it was stopped incorrectly, just like number one. The third option – after the good use of the video referee – was fired at goal by Jansen, but turned. Fortunately for Anne Veenendaal – she kept the first two quarters – Charlotte Stapenhorst’s chance was called off early. The push from Nike Lorenz had to get rid of the keeper.
Those were also all German chances. The Orange was much better and it was waiting for the very first goal. But for that it had to be less messy. The Orange did reach the circle of Die Danas, but killed the chances themselves.
Sanders instinct goal
Until Pien Sanders was there with a piece of art. The fourth penalty corner of the Orange was turned by the German goalie Noelle Rother, exactly in the direction of the Brabant principal. Out of self-protection – and reflex – she threw her stick into the air. And so she tapped the 1-0 over the goal line.
When Frédérique Matla was allowed to score the sixth penalty corner, part of the audience in the Wagener Stadium already clapped their hands. Matla’s first direct push flew razor-sharp to the bottom left corner, but the German goalkeeper made a brilliant save.
The Dutch got into trouble when Maria Verschoor had to leave with green after a minimal foul. Due to the surplus, the Germans finally managed to make a little more of a fist offensively. But when the Orange Ladies were back in line with eleven, it was immediately hit again. Pien Dicke was the final destination after a good action over the left side of Joosje Burg. For example, the score was doubled six minutes before the end and the Pro League win could not go wrong for Paul van Ass’s team.
The Orange still conceded a goal against. From the very first penalty corner for Germany. Although Lisa Post completed Sonja Zimmermann’s first push perfectly, the ball eventually ended up with Viktoria Huse. She fumbled the ball behind Josine Koning, who was not completely free in the short corner.
A stain on success. Because the profit was in. Another title for the Orange machine. The perfect preparation for a hopeful European championship. With seven weeks to go.
by Hockey.nl
