The Dutchmen suffered their first defeat of this year on Thursday. In Sydney, the Netherlands lost the Pro League game to a much more effective Australia: 4-2. It is the second defeat of the Olympic champion in this edition of the Nations League. On Friday, Jeroen Delmée’s team will face Spain again.
Before a ball had rolled, it was already clear that February 6, 2025 would be an unforgettable day for Daan Bonhof and Boris Aardenburg. The two Pinoké players debuted as internationals and walked around the Olympic field hockey complex in the Australian metropolis as proud as a peacock. For Aardenburg, it was even a double celebration: he also celebrated his 22nd birthday.
The two debutants also saw it raining quick chances in the hot stadium, where the temperature crept toward 30 degrees. It made Australia feel cramped in the opening stages, with the Netherlands often popping up in front of goalkeeper Jed Snowden’s goal. Derck de Vilder had a free kick, Koen Bijen tipped in the goal and Floris Middendorp smashed a backhand into the legguards of the new and unpassable Australian goalkeeper.
The Aussies are engaged in a complete renovation of the national team, comparable to the trajectory the Netherlands went through in the first months under Jeroen Delmée. Figureheads like Eddie Ockenden, Matt Dawson and Aran Zalewski quit after the Paris Games, in which Australia was eliminated by the Netherlands (2-0) in the quarterfinals.
Debutants Boris Aardenburg and Daan Bonhof. Photo: Worldsportpics/Craig Clifford
Frustration over lack of goals
As a result, new national coach Mark Hager has to build a new team. Wednesday in the 2-1 defeat against Spain, he had as many as eight players debut. The Aussies held out for a long time against the Dutch, who of course did not play in their strongest lineup. The Netherlands was missing Jip Janssen, Thierry Brinkman, Floris Wortelboer and Lars Balk who recently played the Hockey India League. They therefore did not travel with the team to Down Under.
Despite their absence, the Netherlands was much more dangerous throughout the first half. Got into the circle more often and had more chances. But it was Australia that, to everyone’s surprise, went into halftime with a lead. That happened because of a hit penalty ball, which arose from a penalty corner. Jake Harvie, one of the few routines of the home team, pushed the ball and beat Derk Meijer. Rotterdam’s goalkeeper was again under the crossbar, just as he was against Spain.
‘We could have scored three or four. The boys are a bit frustrated about the score,’ Delmée said at halftime in front of the FIH cameras. That frustration only escalated just after halftime, when Davis Atkin put the Australians up 2-0. The young striker took a high ball, shook off Thijs van Dam and knocked Meijer into the short corner. It was a goal that was debated for a few more minutes because of alleged dangerous play. In the end, the video referee was unable to pass judgment on it, so the goal stood.
Steijn van Heijningen collides with goalkeeper Jew Snowden. Photo: Worldsportpics/Craig Clifford
Those two goals threw some sand into the engine running nicely for the Orange, which had fewer chances in the third quarter than in the quarters before. Indeed, Australia even ran out to a 3-0 lead, as a backhand by Cooper Burns also flew behind Meijer. Burns, like Atkin, had never before scored for the national team. A minute later, it finally hit the mark for the Orange when Koen Bijen reacted attentively to a corner rebound.
The hope that was short-lived
The frustration seemed completely gone for the Netherlands when Tjep Hoedemakers – after good preliminary work by Aardenburg – put the 3-2 on the boards just after the start of the fourth quarter. He quickly picked the ball out of the goal. No time to waste. The hunt for the equalizer was on. But while the Netherlands was still reeling from that goal, Australia struck again mercilessly two minutes later. Ky Willott’s 4-2 – also scored against Spain on Wednesday – hurt and came at exactly the wrong time.
Of course the Dutch did everything they could to still win a shoot-out series. They increased the tempo, put full pressure on the Australian defense. But the Netherlands could not turn the tide again. They had plenty of opportunities and got into the circle as many as 31 times, but allowed Australia to grow in the match and gain confidence. An observation the Olympic champion can take with them to the next two games. Friday (Spain) and Sunday (Australia), the Netherlands owes it to itself to be more careful with its chances.
Australia – Netherlands 4-2 (1-0)
27. Jake Harvie (sb) 1-0
34. Davis Atkins 2-0
43. Cooper Burns 3-0
44. Koen Bijen (sc) 3-1
46. Tjep Hoedemakers 3-2
48. Ky Willott 4-2
Read back highlights of the Pro League match between the Netherlands and Australia below
by Hockey.nl
