HC ’s-Hertogenbosch held off a massive challenge from Dutch rivals SCHC 3-2 to advance to the FINAL4 of the ABN AMRO EHL Women’s tournament.
They built a three-goal lead which they just about held onto in the face of a massive comeback from the Bilthoven side.
Den Bosch went in front in the ninth minute in thrilling style as Maartje Krekelaar’s skill set Laura Nunnink free. A perfectly weighted pass allowed Lieve Wijckmans run onto the ball and she fired in a low backhand through Elodie Picard.
It was 2-0 when Charlotte Englebert got a beautiful touch to Sanne Koolen’s swept corner shot in the 21st minute.
But the scoreline did not tell the full story of the half in which SCHC had a number of corners, one of which was agonisingly pulled back by an early whistle with the ball floating into the goal in favour of another pc.
Maartje Krekelaar then extended the lead to 3-0 in the second half when Den Bosch rallied brilliantly to an off-course injection, passing the ball all the way around the circle for her to push in.
SCHC dominated the game after that, eventually breaking through on the scoreboard from their seventh corner from Yibbi Jansen with 19 minutes left.
They had another denied by the video umpire and the hit the post while Josine Koning made a string of good saves. That is how it played out until just before the final hooter when Jansen added a penalty stroke with nine seconds left.
