With the exception of five minutes, Orange has a fairly carefree afternoon: 1-3
The Dutch national team convincingly beat Germany for the second time in two days on Sunday afternoon. In Hamburg, the Orange Women won 1-3 thanks to goals from Freeke Moes and Xan de Waard before half-time and Yibbi Jansen after half-time.
On the ugly green field with blue lines, the Netherlands did not put itself in the tight situation this time that it had to turn a deficit, such as Saturday (from 2-0 to 2-3) . Now the Orange – without Frédérique Matla, who was replaced by Kyra Fortuin – quickly brought itself into calm waters. Early in the game, Jamilon Mülders’ team hockeyed its way to a comfortable 0-2 lead, against the team that will meet in three weeks’ time in the group stage of the World Cup. After the 1-2, the Netherlands faltered for a moment, but a goal by Jansen from a penalty shot marked the end of the German offensive.
The Orange was immediately much stronger than the neighboring country in the first minutes of this second confrontation and quickly took two penalty corners. The highlight was midfielder Yibbi Jansen’s backhand shot, which was stopped by goalkeeper Julia Sonntag.
After ten minutes of hockey, a quick free hit by assist queen Laurien Leurink led to the opening goal. Midfielder Laura Nunnink handed the ball back to Leurink, who served Freeke Moes. Moes cleverly pushed the ball over the ground through the legs of goalkeeper Sonntag: 0-1.
Xan de Waard’s 2-0
A missed penalty corner was the only dangerous moment for Germany before halftime. Lidewij Welten had the 2-0 on her stick after a nice combination. All alone she sprinted towards Sonntag. But Welten waited too long to shoot. From close range she shot the ball against the legguard of the German goalkeeper.
Welten remained a scourge for the German defence. Again Sonntag saved a shot by Welten with her leg. Halfway through the second quarter, the dribbling queen of Den Bosch received a push from Pauline Heinz, which resulted in the Netherlands’ third penalty corner. The ball went to Sanne Koolen, who produced a flats. Surprisingly, the ball didn’t go to the goal, but she passed in teammate Xan de Waard, who put her stick against it: 0-2. A big improvement compared to Saturday, when the Netherlands needed eleven penalty corners to score a goal.
Sloppy phase almost leads to Germany’s equalizer
It seemed to be a carefree afternoon for Orange. But the Netherlands did not come out of the locker room strong and gave Germany the chance to get back into the game. Pien Sanders fouled Sara Strauss, who was planning to fire on the Orange goal. With that, the Netherlands gave away a penalty ball early in the third quarter.
Just like Saturday, captain Sonja Zimmermann, who will play for Bloemendaal next season, stood behind the ball. This time she didn’t have to beat Anne Veenendaal, but Josine Koning. Koning took over from Veenendaal on Sunday and kept the entire game. But just like Veenendaal, Koning was beaten. Zimmerman pushed the ball into the same corner as Saturday: 1-2.
With that Orange gave the Germans some fuel unnecessarily. It was thanks to Koning that moments later the 2-2 did not fall. A shot from Heinz flew towards the intersection, but Koning put her arm in the air and prevented a goal with her stick. It was a wonderful rescue.
Rake penalty ball Jansen provides Orange air
When Felice Albers was then pushed into her back by Jette Fleschütz and thus received a penalty shot, the Netherlands gave themselves some air again. It was Yibbi Jansen who was allowed to take it. Her push was across the ground and right through the middle, but hit: 1-3.
After a decision by the video referee, the Netherlands also got a penalty corner early in the fourth quarter, the fourth. But on the head circle, the sights were still not quite sharp. Jansen’s low drag push didn’t fly far enough into the corner, allowing Sonntag to make a fairly easy save with her right foot.
Orange continued to dominate. Three minutes before the end, a ball landed on a German foot, which allowed the Netherlands to score again for a penalty corner. As is often the case in this diptych with Germany, Orange chose a variant. But stopper Margot van Geffen’s pass to Jansen was much too soft, so the ball was intercepted by a German defender. It was the last serious chance the Netherlands got. The 1-3 win will give confidence towards the start of the World Championship (1-17 July).
Germany – Netherlands 1-3 (0-2)
10. Freeke Moes 0-1
22. Xan de Waard 0-2 (sc)
35. Sonja Zimmerman 1-2 (sb)
42. Yibbi Jansen 1-3 (sb)
