AMSTERDAM, July 2: Netherlands' last-minute goal by Matthijs Brouwer snatched a 3-2 victory over Pakistan on Thursday and earned a ticket to the final of the men's 4-Nations hockey tournament.
Netherlands now play Germany in Saturday's final and India play Pakistan for third place. Pakistan's star full back and penalty corner converter Sohail Abbas was denied any chances to score in his 200th game for Pakistan as Netherlands did not concede a penalty corner.
Pakistan had needed to beat Netherlands by three goals to make the final against Germany. "To get three goals ahead of Netherlands on their home pitch is a big task for any team," said Pakistan's coach, Roelant Oltmans.
Pakistan took some time to settle into their rhythm with Maqsood Adnan injured and Pakistan's decision to use individual marking on Teun de Nooijer, Netherlands play-maker, and fell behind after five minutes.
Ronald Brouwer broke through Pakistan's defence to flick high to Alam Ahmad in Pakistan's goal who parried with his left glove to de Nooijer outside the circle. De Nooijer eluded Sohail Abbas, carried possession into the circle and drove an unstoppable shot into the top of the net.
Netherlands scored again, six minutes into the second half with Pakistan reeling at 2-0 through Karel Klaver's goal, deflected in at the right post from a free hit by Jeroen Delmee outside the circle.
At half time, Oltmans changed tactics to pressure Netherlands deep defence and the tactic paid off after Klaver's goal and Pakistan made an astonishing recovery to get back to 2-2 with 14 minutes on the clock.
Ali Ghazanfar deflected in a free hit from the right with Netherlands under pressure deep in defence for Pakistan's first goal. Mudassar Ali Khan robbed Netherlands full back Erik Jazet of possession in the midfield, carried into the circle and laid off to Rehan Butt to drive into the right side of goal.
Oltmans was philosophical about the last minute, match winning, goal to Matthijs Brouwer. "Sometimes 2-2 is an okay result rather than a 2-3 loss," Oltmans said. "We had good learning moments at the end of the match when the boys went for the win and were perhaps too adventurous which left us exposed at the back."
Jesse Mahieu was surrounded by four players in the left backfield, found Ronald Brouwer on the right sideline who carried to the forward quarter line and passed to Karel Klaver at the top of the circle.
Klaver faked to strike then passed forward to Brouwer out from the left post to drive into goal for the winner, a minute before the hooter. Oltmans was pleased with his team's performance: "I am proud of the way the boys played for 25 minutes of the second half and they showed the world they can play at the top level of international hockey," Oltmans said.
Earlier world champions Germany cruised past India 4-0 with Bjorn Michel scoring a hat trick from penalty corners. India blooded William Xalxo, Vivek Gupta and Hari Prasad for their first internationals, but were left lacking in midfield in a tough defence-oriented second half.
Germany's Christoph Bechmann scored a lightning-fast goal in the first half, driving over the left shoulder of Devesh Chauhan in India's goal from the right top of the circle. Germany did not concede any penalty corners in the match. But India conceded six and paid the price as on-song Michel scored three times with drag flicks into the right top and left bottom of goal.
Points table
Final table (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points):
Netherlands 3 3 0 0 8 3 9
Germany 3 2 0 1 11 3 6
Pakistan 3 1 0 2 8 10 3
India 3 0 0 3 1 12 0 Final on Saturday
Netherlands v Germany
Third-place playoff
Pakistan v India. -AFP
Netherlands 3 Pakistan 2
Germany 4 India 0