Dutch women ease past Argentina 4-0, set up final date with Australia

The Netherlands women’s hockey team humbled defending champions Argentina 4-0 to storm into the final of the Women’s Hockey World Cup. The top-ranked Dutch girls, egged on by a vociferous home crowd, seized the initiative in the 10^th minute of play through Xan de Waard. Skipper Paumen Maartje doubled the lead six minutes later to exert severe pressure on the Argentinean defence.  

The Las Leonas needed to summon desperate measures to mount a comeback, but the Dutch gave them no leeway and only ensured their cup of woes was brimming over when Kim Lammers racked up the third goal in the 22^nd minute.

Argentina needed to derive some inspiration from their celebrated Luciana Aymar, who was probably playing her fifth and last World Cup, in the second half, but that did not come as the Oranje brigade tightened the screws and coasted to a facile win, pulling off the fourth goal in the final minute through Kim Lammers – her second of the day.

The Dutch eves will now face third ranked Australia in the final – the Hockeyroos halted the giant-killing run of USA – pipping them 3-1 in a penalty shootout after both teams were locked 2-2 in normal time.

Meanwhile, third-ranked England women avoided the wooden spoon beating Belgium 2-1, while in the men’s section, 13^th ranked Malaysia were forced to settle for the wooden spoon after losing 2-6 to 12^th ranked South Africa.

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