AMSTELVEEN : The Netherlands continued their build-up for the European Championship with a 4-0 victory over Pakistan to claim the Four Nations tournament, which also included England and Germany.
In another match, the English, who are the current European champions, came back twice to beat the Germans 3-2 and take second spot while reigning Olympic champions Germany came third ahead of the winless Pakistanis.
Holland, who came third behind Australia and Germany at last year’s World Cup, were out of the blocks early with Jeroen Hertzberger putting them ahead in the 10th minute.
Pakistan, though, were angered by the quickly taken sideline injection by Floris Evers that led to the goal.
Roderick Weusthof grabbed a second on 27 minutes with a penalty flick but there was more controversy ahead of the Netherlands’ third, which came on the stroke of half-time.
The game was held up as the Pakistanis protested against a Dutch penalty corner as the half-time hooter sounded.
Weusthof converted to make it 3-0 at the break.
Dutch keeper Klass Veering saved two penalty corners in the second half, Hertzberger adding a fourth in the 57th minute with a rebound off the pads of Salman Sakbar.
Pakistan manager Khawaja Junaid said his team lost heart after the first goal.
“That was the time when it became difficult to implement our plan,” he said.
Earlier, England produced a gutsy performance to come back twice from a goal down to beat Germany 3-2. “It was a big game for us, a high quality game in which we were competitive for long periods,” said England coach Jason Lee.
Thilo Stralkowski converted Germany’s first penalty corner only for Alastair Brogden to level three minutes before half-time.
Just after the break Oliver Korn restored the lead for the Olympic champions but once again England came bouncing back, with Iain Mackay’s push across goal deflecting in off the stick of goalkeeper Max Weinhold.
Two minutes from time, Mark Pearn’s cross was deflected by Rob Moore over the diving Weinholt to give England victory.—AFP
